Hundreds of mourners turned out to pay tribute to the life of Alby Schultz at Cootamundra's Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Tuesday. Among them were some of the country’s leading political heavyweights, past and present, including Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop.
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Alby Schultz was a former Cootamundra Shire Councillor, former State Member for Burrinjuck and former Federal Member for Hume. He passed away Tuesday, July 14, at the age of 76.
His son Grant Schultz led the tributes, saying his father was simply a good mate who loved his wife, Gloria and family deeply.
He fondly recalled that, despite not being a “good fisherman”, frustratingly his father could hook a cracker of a catch at the end of a day’s outing.
The Right Reverend Stuart Robinson presided over the funeral, along with the Reverend Rob Donald Rector of the Christ Church Cootamundra and Father Joshy of the Catholic Church.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott delivered a five-minute reflection on the life of Alby Schultz.
Mr Abbott paid tribute to Alby’s love for the electorate, his family and in particular his wife Gloria.
“As he famously told everyone he met, ‘when you got me, there were two … you got Gloria',” he said.
“Alby didn't have a jealous bone in his body.
“Because he was secure in himself, he could revel in the success of others. It’s a rare politician that can revel in the success of others.”
Angus Taylor, Alby Schultz’s successor in the Hume electorate, said Alby’s legacy has not been lost on him.
“I cannot go into a village or town in this electorate without hearing a story about Alby and what he did for someone or a community group, and that was before we lost him,” he said.
Alby’s family thanked those present for their friendship and for honouring their father and husband. A wake was held after the service at the Cootamundra Ex-Servicemens and Citizens Memorial Club.
