18 Mar 1997 Motion of Condolence 471 TUESDAY, 18 MARCH 1997 Dear Mr Turner, It is with regret that I have to inform you that I am tendering my resignation as the Member for Kurwongbah in the Mr SPEAKER (Hon. N. J. Turner, Nicklin) Parliament of Queensland as from today's read prayers and took the chair at 9.30 a.m. date. Since my two heart by-pass operations ASSENT TO BILLS last year, I have not enjoyed the best of health. In fact my health has deteriorated Mr SPEAKER: Order! I have to inform to the extent that my Doctors have the House that I have received from Her advised me that they believe I can no Excellency the Governor a letter in respect of longer effectively perform my duties as a assent to certain Bills, the contents of which Parliamentarian and as Member for will be incorporated in the records of Kurwongbah. Parliament— I am enclosing letters from my Doctors GOVERNMENT HOUSE which are self-explanatory. QUEENSLAND 19 February 1997 I would appreciate if you would convey my notice of resignation to the House at your The Honourable N. J. Turner, MLA earliest opportunity. Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Parliament House All the best for the future. George Street Yours sincerely, BRISBANE QLD 4000 Margaret Woodgate" Dear Mr Speaker I hereby acquaint the Legislative Assembly that the following Bills, having been passed by the MOTION OF CONDOLENCE Legislative Assembly and having been Death of Mr H. Dean presented for the Royal Assent, were assented to in the name of Her Majesty The Queen on 14 Hon. R. E. BORBIDGE (Surfers February 1997: Paradise—Premier) (9.33 a.m.), by leave, without notice: I move— "A Bill for an Act to provide for industrial organisations in Queensland and for other "1. That this House desires to place matters" on record its appreciation of the services "A Bill for an Act to provide for workplace rendered to this State by the late Harold relations in Queensland, and for other Dean, a former member of the Parliament purposes". of Queensland. The Bills are hereby transmitted to the 2. That Mr Speaker be requested to Legislative Assembly, to be numbered and convey to the family of the deceased forwarded to the proper Officer for enrolment, gentleman the above resolution, together in the manner required by law. with an expression of the sympathy and Yours sincerely sorrow of the members of the Parliament (Sgd) Leneen Forde of Queensland in the loss they have sustained." Governor Harold Dean was born on 20 February 1913, the son of Andrew, a businessman, and ELECTORAL DISTRICT OF Emily. Harold was educated in Brisbane at KURWONGBAH Sandgate State School and Brisbane State Resignation of Member High before working in the Public Service, principally within the State Housing Mr SPEAKER: I have to report to the Commission. A childhood bout of polio meant House that I have received the following letter that Harold wore leg braces throughout his life. from Margaret Rosemary Woodgate, member Whilst this meant that he was unable to take for the electoral district of Kurwongbah— up active service in World War II, it did not "March 17, 1997 discourage him from serving his country and, The Hon N Turner, MLA instead, he took part in the volunteer corps. It Speaker was during the war that he joined the Labor Legislative Assembly of Queensland Party. Parliament House In 1952 Harold was elected to represent BRISBANE QLD 4000 the Sandgate region as an alderman within 472 Motion of Condolence 18 Mar 1997 the Brisbane City Council. He stayed there for Mr BEATTIE (Brisbane Central—Leader eight years until he was elected as the of the Opposition) (9.36 a.m.): On behalf of member for Sandgate in 1960. Perhaps like all the Opposition, I second the motion moved by members who enter this place via local the Premier and pass on the condolences of government, Harold's views were characterised the Opposition to Iris and to Harold Dean's by an understanding of the problems faced at family. that level, particularly in relation to As the Premier indicated, even though infrastructure development and levels of Harold Dean retired in 1977, he was a financial assistance and subsidies from State frequent visitor to the Parliament. He used to and Federal Governments. come in here regularly with his good mate Mr Dean sat on the Opposition benches Jack Melloy, with whom he served in the for the duration of his parliamentary career House, to have morning tea. From time to and at the time of his departure in 1977 he time the staff of the Parliament have told me was the Opposition spokesperson on how delightful both Harold Dean and Jack community and welfare services. Harold was Melloy were and they looked forward to their well known for his strong views against the weekly visits here. consumption of alcohol and the use of illegal Harold was certainly a distinguished drugs. It was perhaps a mark of the tenacity parliamentarian. He had the unfortunate and strength of the man that he was not experience of serving in the cricket team days dissuaded from expressing his views, which when the Labor Party was reduced to 11 were often controversial, even when they members in this House. Harold was delighted conflicted with the policies of the Labor Party. when our position improved significantly after those days. He was one of those tough Above all else, Mr Dean was certainly an individuals who went through the difficult times enthusiastic and strong local member, for the party, and he did it with style and a lot committed to his home turf of Sandgate and of commitment. constantly trying to achieve more for the residents in his electorate. Whether it was Harold was born in Red Hill on 20 trying to get ceiling fans installed in the local February 1913. He was educated at the school, obtaining improved health facilities or Sandgate primary school and he attended advocating the installation of sewer systems, Brisbane State High. He was the alderman for he was often vocal in his criticism of the Sandgate from 1952 to 1960 and he was the Government of the day. He was considered State member for Sandgate from 1960 to accessible and personable by those who 1977. Unfortunately, he passed away on 28 worked with him in his electorate and he was February 1997. certainly a popular and well-respected figure Harold was a Commonwealth and State on both sides of this House. Honourable public servant with the Housing Commission members will be well aware of the physical prior to 1952, and he was a voluntary worker demands that representation of their for the Army from 1939 to 1945 because, due constituents places upon them and will to the fact that he had poliomyelitis as a child, therefore have some appreciation of the he was unfit for war service. He was the achievements of Mr Dean in overcoming Opposition spokesman on community and physical disability to do this over a period of 17 welfare services, he was a member of the years. Queensland Central Executive of the ALP from 1950 to 1955 and he was the past Shortly before he retired from politics at president and secretary of the Sandgate the age of 64, Harold announced his branch of the ALP. He was a patron of the engagement to Iris Toppin, whom he met Sandgate boy scouts, he was a member of while working in Parliament House. They later the Lions Club, he was a fellow of the Royal married and moved to Sandgate to live. His Geographic Society, he was vice-president of retirement notwithstanding, Harold did not lose the Queensland Band Association, he was a interest in the machinations of this place and member of the Musicians Union and he was a was frequently seen around the precincts of member of the Brisbane QATB Executive, Parliament House. As a frequent visitor, he which gives the House some idea of the broad was always keen to have a chat and a yarn. I interests that Harold Dean had. always found him to be an absolutely delightful gentleman. In 1977 Harold married Miss Iris Toppin, who was the head of the parliamentary Harold is survived by Iris and their families. correspondence section at Parliament House. On behalf of the Government, I extend my When Harold Dean married at 64 it was his sympathy and that of this House to them. first marriage and, indeed, it was Miss Toppin's 18 Mar 1997 Motion of Condolence 473 first marriage as well. Of course, neither had the ups and downs of good and bad fortune children, but they do have an extended family. with the party, but he never lost his faith in the Those members who knew Harold Dean Australian Labor Party. Today I pay tribute to knew that he suffered from polio as a child Harold for that commitment and faith. and that he used leg irons and a walking stick I wish to speak again about his disability, for most of his life. In later years, he was because it is important to appreciate on an confined to a wheelchair. That says a great occasion such as this one his great strength of deal about the courage, the fortitude and the character. In spite of his substantial disability, strength of character of the man. no-one was more visible in the Sandgate Harold spent 25 years in representative electorate than Harry Dean. According to Nev service, and it is worth going through this Warburton, he seemed to be everywhere.