Senator PATTERSON (4:26 PM) —I wish to associate myself with the condolence motion for Kevin Eugene Newman. My colleagues have spoken about his distinguished military career. I have to mention that, at the funeral service, Senator Calvert referred to the amusing story about Kevin Newman having arrived at Old Parliament House in a pair of army pyjamas, when he was dumped there by some of his military colleagues. I think that showed the sense of fun that he had then, a sense of fun that he never lost.

His parliamentary career has been referred to and the fact that he served almost all of his parliamentary career as a minister. People have referred to the achievements of that ministry. Others have referred to his community service in a wide range of areas since he left parliament. I cannot do anything better than quote from the words of Kevin himself from the book, Partners, which Senator Calvert referred to. I want to read an extract from that book:

There aren't too many New Age guys in my generation.

I think that most of us of my age could say, `Hear, hear,' to that. The extract continues:

It's enjoyable supporting Joc and keeping the home running, simply because she now has her chance to follow a challenging career which she never had while she supported me.

As we know, he was often up there in the gallery when she was answering questions in question time. I know that he kept the home running because I benefited from a great number of meals that he cooked. Also, when I stayed there, he always gave me Milo before I went to bed. So I fondly referred to him as my `Milo man' and that name stuck for the whole time that I knew Kevin. It is really about my `Milo man' that I am speaking and I am reading extracts from his book. He went on in the book Partners to say:

Over recent years we have each had to look a doctor in the eye while we were told we were not immortal. In my case I contracted lupus which in turn attacked my lungs. I now live with an incurable lung disease which is getting worse.

I think he showed the practicality of being able to face the fact that he was not immortal with great strength and courage. I think that was something to be admired and most of us would wonder whether we would have that same courage.

Kevin also talked about Jocelyn's illness in this book. He said that those two things—the fact that he was ill and the fact that Jocelyn had been ill—were pretty hard to come to terms with. But he went on to say:

But it can also be enormously positive. The heightened appreciation of life, love, family and friends is something to be experienced. Every day is special and to be lived to the full. It also helps to put the problems in perspective. Political attacks, be they ever so cruel, are not really of enormous importance. Just to be alive and loved counts for more than fame and fortune.

There is a real message for all of us in those few words. He then went on to say:

We think fortune has smiled on us. When we married it was for love. But we all know that choosing a mate for life can be a pig-in-a-poke. For us, a long marriage has worked. We have been blessed with great children and grandchildren, we have both had important and influential careers, but best of all, we are still best mates.

I think that sums up Kevin to a T. In all those difficulties, he still saw the positive side.

I was overwhelmed to be asked by the family to read a lesson at the service. I said to Jocelyn afterwards, `I am sure Kevin would have said, "Good on you, Jocelyn—at least you had one girl participating in the funeral service."' He was truly one of the few New-Age guys of his generation. That lesson was from Ecclesiasticus, from the Apocrypha, chapter 44, verses 1 to 15. It started by saying `let us now give praise to godly men'. It was a wonderful reading. It went on:

But we will praise these godly men, whose righteous deeds have never been forgotten. Their reputations will be passed on to their descendants, and this will be their inheritance.

His reputation—as Senator Knowles said—as an officer and a gentleman will be passed on to his descendants and will be their inheritance. We said let us praise godly men: Kevin was a godly man, a gentleman and a gentle man. My sympathy goes to Jocelyn, Kate and Campbell, and his grandchildren, whom he absolutely adored—and we often saw him with them in the corridors here and having a coffee, especially at Aussies. My deepest condolences and sympathy go also to his sister, his extended family and his friends.

The PRESIDENT —Kevin Newman was indeed a very fine man with a very strong commitment to his community and to his family. Tom and I wish to offer our condolences to Jocelyn, Kate, Campbell and their family. I would ask honourable senators to stand in silence to signify their assent to the motion.

Question resolved in the affirmative, honourable senators standing in their places.