We received the sad news over the weekend of the death of Gary Nairn AO.
Gary was the Federal Member for Eden-Monaro for more than 11 years.
A dependable and duty-driven man, Gary served his country, his constituents, and the Liberal Party with distinction.
Gary’s counsel and common sense were readily sought after by his colleagues and his Prime Minister, John Howard, who appointed him his Parliamentary Secretary and Special Minister of State.
In his maiden speech, Gary spoke proudly about being part of a government that was decent, honest, and worked for ordinary Australians – the very traits Gary embodied in his life.
He was a champion of small business which he saw as ‘the lifeblood of rural and regional Australia’, including in his marginal seat of Eden-Monaro which he described as a ‘microcosm of Australia’. Gary knew first-hand that ‘family businesses on the farm and the enterprise of people in the towns’ keep Australia going.
Having lived in the Northern Territory, Gary helped shape the Country Liberal Party, first as a member and then as its President for four years. And he was rightly made an Honorary Life Member.
Testimony to his character and contributions to public life, Gary was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2015 – an accolade recognising not only his parliamentary service, but also his work as a surveyor and his support for Australians with disability.
On behalf of the Federal Coalition, our heartfelt condolences are with Gary’s wife, Rose, his children, Ben and Deborah, and his grandchildren.
3 June 2024