Alistair Urquhart
Nicholas McGOWAN (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (13:37): I rise to talk today about a friend and a member of our party, Alistair Buxton Urquhart. Alistair I first got to know in 1993 or thereabouts – in fact he was our party’s candidate for Jagajaga at that stage – and I was very young but nonetheless found his enthusiasm infectious. Alistair was a passionate Victorian. He was a big thinker, a loyal person and someone who loved poems and a little bit of panache. He also shared much of his life with his wife Mary, who I came to know very well over the years. In 1993, as I have said, he was our candidate for Jagajaga, but as far back as 1985 he was also our party’s candidate for the seat of Bundoora, which of course was for and against John Cain at the time. It is notable also that, while picking up 2 per cent against Labor, also contesting that election was Frank Penhalluriack. Some of you might remember his name in this place from weekend trading. We all have him to thank for shopping on Saturdays and Sundays, so I make that note.
Alistair received an OAM for his work. He was outstanding when it came to supporting those with disabilities and was a key person who founded the WISE organisation in 1992. He chaired that organisation for 30 years.
Alistair sent a letter to me after the election loss we had in 1993; it is quite a humorous one. He said, in short:
Voters did not find the time to think … or the courage to act.
Of course we lost.
Democracy has its faults – it’s still better than the alternatives!!
“Fightback”, and now its fight on.