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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-09-24 Daily Xml
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Condolence

CONNELLY, MR E.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (14:20): I move:

That the Legislative Council expresses its deep regret at the passing of Mr Edward (Ted) Connelly, member of the House of Assembly, and places on record its appreciation of his long and meritorious service, and that as a mark of respect to his memory the sitting of the council be suspended until the ringing of the bells.

I rise today to pay respects to the Hon. Edward (Ted) Connelly, who died last week at the Mary Potter Hospice in Adelaide aged 94. Ted was an Independent member of parliament, elected in 1975 to represent the seat of Pirie. Unfortunately, I did not know Mr Ted Connelly but, nevertheless, he has certainly left behind quite a legacy.

He held the balance of power upon his election and sided with then premier Don Dunstan to form a Labor government. Ted Connelly was elected Speaker of the House of Assembly on his first day as an elected member of parliament, serving as Speaker until his parliamentary career ended in 1977.

A former Port Pirie mayor, Ted's popularity in the region hit a high point during his election campaign with a local group penning a song to their mayor, proclaiming him to be their man. I will certainly spare the chamber any musical rendition of the tune but the words went something like:

Ted, Ted Connelly, he's the man to vote for in Port Pirie. Ted, the great superman, calls to the other guys, 'Catch me if you can!'

It was sung to the tune of Muhammad Ali the Black Superman.

Ted Connelly had been a very staunch and long-term member of the ALP and was disqualified from the party when he stood as an Independent in 1975—and then supported the Dunstan Labor government. In 1976, seven months into his term, he reapplied to join the Labor Party and was readmitted at that year's state conference. The district of Pirie became the seat of Rocky River following the electoral boundary redistribution, and Ted stood as the ALP candidate in 1977 but did not gain the seat.

An honourable member: He lost it to Mr Venning.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: Was it? It was Ivan Venning who took it up.

The Hon. J.S.L. Dawkins: Ivan's dad, Howard.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: After leaving parliament Mr Connelly was appointed as the inaugural chairman of the Outback Areas Community Development Trust by the government of the day. His role focused on much of South Australia's Far North, fostering developments in the areas not then covered by the Local Government Act. We offer our heartfelt condolences to Ted Connelly's friends and family.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (14:23): I rise on behalf of the opposition to endorse the comments already made by the Leader of the Government and to speak briefly to the condolence motion for the Hon. Edward Connelly. He was born on 6 November 1918 in Scotland and later moved to Port Pirie. He lived in Port Pirie for 45 years and figured in Port Pirie public life for two decades prior to running for the ALP candidacy for the seat of Port Pirie. By that time he had been a member of the Port Pirie council for 22 years and was mayor at the time. He had held posts as the chairman of the Port Pirie Trades and Labour Council, secretary of the Amalgamated Engineering Union and chairman of the Port Pirie Abattoirs Board.

Mr Connelly initially aimed for preselection as a Labor candidate but upon his defeat community support motivated him to run as an Independent. His election in 1975 marked the first time in history that the solid working-class seat of Port Pirie had been lost by the Labor Party. He was 56 at the time and married with five children and had no intention at that time of moving from Port Pirie.

Mr Connelly was Speaker of the House of Assembly for the duration of his parliamentary membership and throughout that time he was readmitted to the ALP. When Port Pirie disappeared in the 1976 redistribution, Mr Connelly stood as the ALP candidate—as the Leader of the Government indicated—for the seat of Rocky River but was defeated by Mr Howard Venning, the father of a current member of the House of Assembly, the member for Schubert, Ivan Venning.

After leaving parliament in September 1977, Mr Connelly was posted within the department of local government and went on to be the chairman of the Outback Areas Community Development Trust. He then relocated to Adelaide to live. I also note, importantly, his service in the Royal Australian Air Force during World War II and his life membership of the Royal Australian Air Force Association in Mitcham. I join with members on this side of the chamber in extending our condolences to his family and friends.

Motion carried by members standing in their places in silence.


[Sitting suspended from 14:25 to 14:42]


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