Mr TURNBULL (Wentworth—Prime Minister) (09:55): I move: That the House acknowledge the passing, on 16 November 2017, of the Honourable Wallace Clyde (Wal) Fife, former member of this House for the Division of Farrer from 1975 to 1984 and Division of Hume from 1984 to 1993, and former member of the New South Wales Parliament, and place on record our nation's gratitude for his service, and tender our profound sympathy to his family and friends and former colleagues. Wal Fife served as a member of parliament, both state and federal parliaments, for 36 years. When he retired, in 1993, he was one of Australia's longest-serving parliamentarians. We look back on Wal's career at a time when politics is perhaps not the most popular of professions. Back then it was more of a vocation and those who wanted to join the fray often had a very deep calling to serve. Wal's time in public life demonstrates that in the best possible way. All children have dreams about what they will be when they grow up. Young Wal dreamed of being a politician, and when he was just 10 he set up a make-believe polling booth in the garage and handed out how-to-vote cards to imaginary voters. His parents worked long hours running the family's bakeries and when they decided to send him to boarding school they let him choose which one. Not surprisingly, he chose Canberra Grammar so that he could visit Parliament House regularly and watch politics in action from a front-row seat. In 1947 during his final year at school, he wrote to Robert Menzies, then Leader of the Opposition, to ask if he could have a job with the Liberal Party. Menzies introduced him to Donald Cleland, who offered him a clerical position with the party in Sydney. After three attempts for the state seat of Wagga Wagga, Wal won it in 1957 in a by-election. He was on his way. When Robert Askin led the Liberal Party to victory in New South Wales in 1965, Wal was named assistant education minister, giving him his first real chance to make a difference in politics. Ultimately, of course, he wanted to make a difference nationally, and in 1975 he successfully contested the federal seat of Farrer. In the Fraser government he held consecutive ministries, including Minister for Business and Consumer Affairs, Minister for Education, Minister for Aviation and Deputy Leader of the House. In everything he did, Wal Fife never forgot he was there to improve life for the people who elected him. Of his many achievements he was probably most proud of the role he played in creating Charles Sturt University, bringing university education to the people of his own region. As the university said at his death, 'Wal's fortitude, vision and commitment was instrumental in its establishment.' It takes a special person not only to survive in the political arena but to thrive, and to do so earning the respect of political friends and foes alike. Wal Fife was that person. He once told a newspaper, 'A chap said to me today that I walked through a minefield and came through virtually unscathed. I'm very proud of that. I modelled myself to be a good local member and a capable administrator.' We could all do well to heed those wise words. Today we remember a man who had friends on both sides of the House, a politician who never lost sight of his childhood dream to serve his community, his state, his nation. Our thoughts are with his wife, Marcia, his four children, 10 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. May he rest in peace.