“While most politicians manage, for the sake of self-preservation, to quickly develop a thick hide, it’s much harder for their families to do the same,” writes JON STANHOPE.

I FIRST met Bill Stefaniak in 1970, at the ANU Law School. My earliest memories of Bill are of his size – he is big, his good-humoured boisterousness and his love of rugby union. 

I also have clear memories of his penchant, after a beer or two, without invitation or inhibition to sing “48 Crash” with a style and verve that even Suzi Quatro would have applauded.

After gaining our law degrees, Bill and I both attended the ANU Legal Workshop as a precursor to obtaining a practising certificate. 

At the time we attended the workshop, all participants were paired off into a mock legal firm and in one of life’s mysteries Bill and I, who each see the world through quite different eyes, were lumped together. Notably, we could never agree on whether our “firm” was known as Stanhope and Stefaniak or as Stefaniak and Stanhope.

On completion of the workshop and admission as barristers and solicitors, we went our separate ways. I pursued a legal career in the Commonwealth Public Service and Bill went into private practice.

Our paths rarely crossed again in the next 24 years until we were each elected in 1998 to the ACT Legislative Assembly. Bill as a continuing member of the victorious Liberal Party under the leadership of Kate Carnell and me as one of the six members of the ALP who prevailed despite what I understand was the lowest vote (27 per cent) ever achieved by the ALP not just in the ACT but in any election anywhere in Australia. Following our thrashing I was elected Opposition Leader.

While that result was reversed at the 2001 election, Bill and I nevertheless sat opposite each other in the Legislative Assembly for just on a decade.

It was during that decade as our paths crossed not just within the Assembly but at social, political and community events that my wife Robyn and I met and came to know Bill’s wife Shirley. 

Politics is an adversarial, tough and unforgiving business and presents a particular challenge for the partner, children and extended family of politicians. While it is the case that most politicians manage, for the sake of self-preservation, to develop a thick hide in a fairly short shrift, it is much harder for their families to do the same.

Nevertheless, while that was the environment in which we met Shirley, regardless of our political differences and my and Bill’s at times vigorous arm wrestling and public point scoring, we developed a friendship with her. 

Therefore, it was with genuine sadness we learnt in recent weeks that Shirley had died following a long and nobly resisted struggle with her health. 

I was honoured to attend her funeral on October 14 at St Christopher’s Cathedral, Manuka. Tributes reflecting on Shirley’s rich life and her devotion to her family were delivered by Bill; by one of Shirley’s close friends, the Governor of NSW Margaret Beazley AC; family friend Allan Sullivan KC and Shirley’s son John Lane.

I extend my deepest sympathy to my old mate and sparring partner Bill and to all his and Shirley’s family and friends on her death and their loss. May she rest in peace.

Bishop Pat Power officiated at Shirley’s funeral. I hold Pat in as high esteem as anyone I have met in my life, with the exception, of course, of my wife Robyn. It is a mystery to me that Pat has not been invited to be the Pope, unless perhaps it is a question of age, and he is not yet old enough for the job.

However, more seriously, I believe the community of Canberra should consider how we can better recognise those among us, such as Bishop Power, who have made and, in many instances, continue to make an unmatched contribution to our community. 

Pat is, I think, one of Canberra’s and Australia’s greatest living treasures and we should, I think, find an appropriate means for recognising him and others like him.

Jon Stanhope was ACT chief minister from 2001 to 2011 and the only chief minister to have governed with a majority in the Assembly. Read more of his columns on citynews.com.au