Butler, Terri, MP

Ms BUTLER (Griffith) (14:09): As we've heard—and I thank the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition for their very kind words—Ben was a great Labor man. At his funeral last week, his daughter Sharon told us that, as proud as he was to become a Member of the Order of Australia and also to receive the Centenary Medal, his most treasured honour was his life membership of the Australian Labor Party. In his youth he was Ben the St John's altar boy, which is where he caught Beryl's eye. They were married for more than six decades. As a young man, he was Ben the mechanic in the Defence Force and then with the garage at the top of Galloways Hill. He was Ben the bushman, travelling west across the continent on wheels, making friends wherever he went. In public life he was Ben the minister, standing up for northern Australia and for returned service men and women. He was known for fighting not just in this place but nationally for the right of Vietnam veterans to march on Anzac Day. But, most importantly, he was always Ben the family man. He and Beryl had lots of joy in being surrounded by their five kids and, later, their grandkids. His family loved him deeply, and he returned that love throughout his life. I hope that his family, as they have a few 'philharmonics'—which was Ben's rhyming slang for gin and tonics—in Ben's bar, know that Ben was loved and respected throughout this nation. May he rest in peace.