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Iiuigitatinr (Foui Particularly Fortunate in Having Shared Six Years Tuesday, the 24Th April, 1979 of Cabinet Life with Sir David As Premier

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Iiuigitatinr (Foui Particularly Fortunate in Having Shared Six Years Tuesday, the 24Th April, 1979 of Cabinet Life with Sir David As Premier ITuesday, 24th April, 1979) 5999 go the extra mile. I regard myself as being Iiuigitatinr (foui particularly fortunate in having shared six years Tuesday, the 24th April, 1979 of Cabinet life with Sir David as Premier. When one looks at his achievements as a politician it is easy to see why he will be The PRESIDENT (the Hon. Clive Griffiths) remembered as one of Western Australia's great took the Chair at 4.30 p.m., and read prayers. Premiers. He was elected to the 18th Parliament as the member for Greenough on the 27th - THE LATE SIR DAVID BRAND October, 1945. He resigned almost 30 years later, Condolence: Motion on the 21st August, 1975. He was appointed THE HON. G. C. MacKINNON (South- Honorary Minister for Housing, Forests, and Government, on the 7th October, 1949. On West-Leader of the House) [4.32 p.m.] I seek Local leave of the House to move, without notice, a the 6th April, 1950, he was appointed Minister motion in relation to the death of the Hon. Sir for Works, Water Supplies, and Housing. Seven David Brand. years later, on the 1st March, 1957, he became Leader of the Opposition. On the 2nd April, 1959, Leave granted. he started his record term as Premier for I I THE HON. G. C. MacKINNON (South- years, I I months, and one day. He was also West-Leader of the House) [4.33 p.m.]: I Treasurer and Minister for Tourism. He was the move- Leader of the Opposition from the 3rd March, That this House expresses its deep regret 1971, to the 5th June, 1972. He was created a at the death of the Honourable Sir David KCMG in 1969. Brand, K.C.M.G., a former member of the As you can see, Mr President, Sir David had a Legislative Assembly for the Greenough very imposing record, not only as a Premier but Electorate, and a former Premier of the also as a member of Parliament. State, and places on record its appreciation We extend to Lady Brand and her family our for his long and meritorious public service, utmost sympathy, and trust they will ind some and tenders its profound sympathy to his consolation in the knowledge that their sadness is widow and the members of his family in their shared by all. For me it was a very sad personal bereavement. loss, because I had for Sir David Brand not just The sudden death of the Hon. Sir David Brand, the admiration one shares for a very gifted and KCMG, on Sunday, the 12th April last, can be talented leader but a deep and abiding affection. regarded as a sad personal loss not only to his THE HON. D. K. DANS (South wife and family, his many friends, and his colleagues, but also to the people of Western Metropolitan-Leader of the Opposition) (4.36 Australia in general. I seek the indulgence of the p.mn. ]: It does not give me pleasure to second the House to pay tribute to this great Western motion moved by the Leader of the House, Australian and to express profound sympathy to because it is a sad occasion. I knew the motion his wife and family in their bereavement. was coming forward and in the first instance it was my intention to write something down. Then I Much has already been said on the passing of thought perhaps it would be better just to reflect this man, whose fine personal attributes matched for a few moments on a man who gave a great his distinguished political achievements-a man deal to this State. whose human qualities touched everyone who knew him, a man whose name is assured of a high I first met David Brand before I came near this place in the State's history. On any judgment, Sir Parliament-in fact, before I ever thought I David Brand would have to rate as one of the would be here. As a matter of fact, at the time I greatest sons this State has produced. We regard first met him, I would have thought I would be a his loss as not only premature but also as a sad backslider if I ever came here. However, chat is blow to Western Australia. history. No man really knows what is in front of The fact that Sir David elected to spend 35 him. years of his life in politics allowed him to give full When I met David Brand, before he was scope to those very special gifts with which .he was knighted, one of the things that impressed me was endowed. He was of inestimable benefit to his sincerity and the fact that he was very Western Australia in particular and Australia in forthright. He was a very easy person to speak to. general. To work with him was a delight. He had He could get his point over without resorting to a natural faculty that made those alongside him threats, hysteria, or extreme language. I admired (500 600[COUNCIL] him for that. I also admired him because he was a On behalf of my party I say we regret his man above all else. passing as a marn. We offer our condolences to When I came into Parliament we assumed Lady Brand and her family. Government and he was the Leader of the THE HON. M. MeA LEER (Upper West) Opposition. I renewed my acquaintance with [4.42 p.m.j: As one who represents the Upper him-it was not a great acquaintance but he West Province, which includes the Greenough certainly had not forgotten me-and I used to electorate, as one who is a member of his old enjoy introducing people to him. When he went electorate, and as one who has been associated out of Parliament it was my pleasure on a number with Sir David Brand during all my political life, of occasions to have a talk with him, sometimes in I would particularly like to speak to this motion. my own office at the end of the passage. One In the Greenough electorate most people of my could always learn something from him. I did not generation, and certainly those who are younger, agree with his political philosophy-I would be a would have no personal recollection of a member hypocrite if I said I did-but I admired him as a for Greenough before Sir David Brand. Certainly man and I think his passing is a great loss. very few of us came into contact with a Premier I want to make one observation; that in view of of Western Australia before he became Premier. the fact that politics is a very complicated He made a unique place for himself both as a business today, with the great pressures which are member and as a Premier. brought to bear particularly on leaders, not only Sir David's genuine interest in people and their of the national or Federal Government but also of welfare was striking, and there would not be one the State Governments, 1 firmly believe Dave person who met him who could forget him. He Brand was its victim. was friendly and approachable and had a great He gave gift of, once having met a person, being able to unsparingly of himself almost 24 hours recall that person on the next occasion he met a day for nearly 12 years. In my very small role as him, even though many years later. This was an Leader of the Opposition in the upper House I endearing trait which emphasised his great find it sometimes very very difficult to fulfil concern for people, which transcended mere party com mitments outside this Chamber-something politics. I think the lack of political bitterness in which many people in the community do not our region can be traced largely to his influence. appreciate. I know that Sir David did not spare himself one little bit in fulfilling his role as he saw Sir rDavid Brand belonged to Greenough in a it; and whether he saw it differently from Me is Of very personal way. He used to claim Dongara, no consequence. The fact is that he was required Northampton, and Mullewa as his home towns, to be where he was and the toll was very hard and those towns quarrelled for the honour of upon him. being his birthplace. He was able to claim them as his home towns because he lived in them as a I think people should take note of that, because boy. In fact he was born in Dongara, and lived it is a popular pastime to shoot arrows into those there after his marriage to Lady Brand before who give some service to the community no becoming a member of Parliament, but he matter what side of the coin they represent or established a personal relationship with every whether it be service on councils, committees, district throughout the Greenough electorate. voluntary organisations, or in Parliament. People Indeed, there was not one district which could not should note that there is a price to pay. If I am rightly feel it had a special claim to his attention correct, Sir David was only 66 years of age, which and interest, whether it was Morawa, Coorow, is not all that old these days. Into his 12 years as Eneabba, or Yuna. Premier probably he compressed almost a lifetime He took a special interest throughout his of effort. career-ven during his time as Premier-in the I am, indeed, very sorry to see his passing.
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