DEBATES - Tuesday 27 April 2010

DEBATES - Tuesday 27 April 2010 Mr Brian Martin, and Mrs Lorraine Martin; and also this renowned Territorian over the past eight the Solicitor-General for the Northern Territory, decades. Mr Michael Grant QC. On behalf of honourable members, I extend to you a very warm welcome. On 4 August 1929, the first Ghan passenger train left Adelaide for Alice Springs, then known as Members: Hear, hear! Stuart. The following year, Bern and his mother _________________________ and sister set off on a three-day trip to join his father in their new home in Alice - population 100 - Mr MILLS (Opposition Leader): Madam with supplies delivered by camel train. It was apt Speaker, it is an honour to pay my respects, as that Bern arrived aged seven on The Ghan. the Opposition Leader, on the passing of Mr Bern Kilgariff. It was also was a great privilege last I recall him describing the time when the week to give a eulogy for Bern Kilgariff at the very Northern Territory was starting to gain an moving state funeral held at Alice Springs, and to awareness of its potential and opportunities, and be able to acknowledge Centralians, almost its responsibilities. This train story was referred to another group within the Territory, who are fiercely on a number of occasions at the state funeral: his proud of their place in the Territory story, and family got on a train that commenced a journey central to that is Bern Kilgariff. that continued on in Alice Springs. That quite significant metaphor of getting on a train to see Bern has been the very heart of Alice Springs where it will take you kept coming up. He gets on for many decades. He has been in people’s trains to see where they will take him, because he hearts, at the heart of history, particularly in sees a significant movement and gets on board Central Australia. There are those among us who and plays his part. command respect through academic learning, physical presence, prowess, but Bern earned the If one traces the history of Alice Springs, one respect of every Territorian through his humble, traces the history of the Kilgariffs. I am pleased to enduring passion for the Northern Territory as a hear that the name will be given to a suburb. whole. From the colourful days of the Stuart Arms, run in the 1920s and 1930s by Uncle Joe Kilgariff; Bern was a man who experienced many facets Father James Long, the first resident priest of of Territory life: tourism, hotels such as the Alice Springs, had his initial home there. As Peg well-known Oasis, agriculture and politics. But a Nelson remembered, Alice Springs at that time story is written in his life’s work. There is a legacy was, essentially, the Stuart Arms pub, a police that remains, from which we can observe and station, a couple of stores, and three or four learn. private homes - how it has changed. The former Administrator, Ted Egan, referred Bern accompanied his father delivering to the family: the trademark Kilgariff look. You building materials to fledgling family businesses in know who is a Kilgariff and who is not by the Barrow Creek, Tennant Creek, and Aileron, and to look - the trademark look - the legacy that is left in gold mining enterprises at Winnecke and The that family; to have so many people in attendance Granites. On 28 February 1938, the Catholic was an example to everyone, as family people. school opened with Bern Kilgariff one of the first The Chief Minister has referred to Bern’s marriage students enrolled. His father had helped with the of 62 years. Once again, a legacy and an construction of this first convent school. example for all of us to aspire to: a long, fruitful, and blessed marriage - it is a challenge for each Leaving school, Bern’s first job was with the of us. pioneering Connellan Airways. When the older men left to join up, including the renowned Sam His story has been written in many places, and Calder, Bern swiftly became a jack-of-all-trades. it is important to note with some gratitude that it has. I thank our local Territory historians, Peter His mother passed away in 1941 when Bern and Sheila Forrest, for tracing the life and times of was only 18 years of age. the Kilgariffs in their beautiful book titled They Started Something, a book I have shared with my In 1942, having witnessed the transformation own family in Western Australia, who love of Alice by the military and refugees following the Australia and Australian stories. It is a story that bombing of Darwin, and the arrival of the is spread widely, not just for the interesting Administrator, Aubrey Abbott, Bern insisted on events, but for the example that has been set by a joining up. He trained with the Armed Cavalry life lived and a contribution made. It is my Division and, eventually, embarked on the genuine hope that future Territory students have Duntroon as reinforcement with the 2/5 Infantry this publication included as part of their studies. It Battalion in the 17th Brigade heading north to New is a wonderful depiction of the journey taken by Guinea. Following rigorous patrols clearing the Japanese from their village bases, Bern 5178 .

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