ALBY Schultz was farewelled in Cootamundra on Tuesday, with hundreds of well-wishers coming out to pay their respects to the long-time state and federal representative.
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He was remembered as a family man with a fiery temperament that was wholly dedicated to serving the community by those spoke at the service at Cootamundra’s Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Mr Schultz died on Tuesday last week after a long and courageous battle with liver cancer.
Numerous past and present Liberals identities, including Prime Minister Tony Abbott, Speaker Bronwyn Bishop, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull, were among those who came farewell the former member for Hume.
The church, which seats about 850 people, was packed out for the service, with mourners spilling out onto its front lawn to say their goodbyes to Mr Schultz.
Reflecting on Mr Schultz’s life, the Prime Minister paid tribute to a man from working class roots who was devoted to his family and always working to help others.
“Alby didn’t have a jealous bone in his body. Because he was secure in himself, he could revel in the success of others,” Mr Abbott said.
“It’s a rare politician that can revel in the success of others.”
Both Mr Abbott and Mrs Bishop, who also reflected on Mr Schultz contribution to public life at the funeral, spoke about his fiery determination to get his point across.
“You were never in any doubt about what his view was or how he felt about it,” Mrs Bishop said.
A common theme touched upon frequently at the service was Mr Schultz’s dedication to his wife Gloria, with whom he formed a formidable team.
“As has been said in all of his endeavours, Alby was closedly partnered by Gloria, who he confessed was the bigger drawcard at ballot box,” Assistant Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said at the funeral.
Mr Schultz’s son Grant recalled his father’s humble beginnings in a working-class Melbourne suburb, where he lived until he ran away to Moama at age 14, where he ended up working in an abattoir.
While at the abattoir, Mr Schultz put himself through night school in his mid-20s to catch up on the education he had missed out on as a child. “Dad always strove to better himself,” Grant said.
“He often said to me, ‘knowledge is power, and only in Australia can such knowledge bring such opportunity’.”
His successor as member for Hume, Angus Taylor, said Alby was a “man of extraordinary conviction”.
“He was one of a kind, the real deal, one in a million, some would say,” he said.
