Kevin Jones

Every person has different aspects or spheres of their life.

There is their family life, their social life, their sporting life, their working life, the list goes on. Kevin loved his family dearly. As he did his beloved Mitchie Soccer club.

My role here today is to talk about Kevin Jones the co-worl(er. Make no mistake, through my contact with Kevin I know much about the other aspects or spheres of his life. But it is his role as a co-worker that I lmow him most intimately.

Kevin was an officer of the Queensland Parliament for 21 years. Kevin had started working in the Parliament about a year before me, and when I commenced at Parliament Kevin was the Deputy Chief Attendant and then later Chief Attendant.

I really got to know Kevin well from about 1999. Around that time, then as Deputy Clerk, I had been given the task, along with Craig Atkinson and Peter Morris, both here today, to review

1

Attendants and Security Services at Parliament House.

Our report recommended that Security and Attendants be merged and that Kevin Jones take over management of the combined area under the then Sergeant at Arms Ian Thompson who is also here today.

It is no secret that Kevin's appointment caused some angst amongst the security staff. Critics amongst them pointed to the fact that Kevin had no special knowledge of security and did not have a security background or qualifications.

Those critics missed the point. Management was not after a former commando or an SAS officer. We were after someone who:

a)Had common sense- because security is 90% common sense

b) Had an appreciation for the special environment that is Parliament - because in the Parliamentary environment security has to be balanced with public access; and

c )Most importantly, would be fearless in making sure that people did the job they were

2

supposed to do - that is, would walk around and call a spade a spade and not be afraid to "kick some back:-sides" as required

In Kevin we trusted.

We were never to be disappointed.

Over the years there were many who tried it on with Kevin; they all came out second best.

It was shortly after Kevin's appointment that I got to know him and Vicl(i a little better personally, especially after a week-long conference in Melbourne, which was followed by a long night and day of black jack at Crown casino. Indeed, I spent more than a few hours in casinos in various locations with Kevin over the years since.

But Kevin was not just the day time manager of a worl( unit at Parliament. For many years he was also the President of the social club at Parliament House - a far more influential and important position. Kevin and his team were instrumental in bringing staff together at some fantastic events -chief amongst them was the 2000 celebration on

3

the rooftop at Parliament House, overlooking the fireworks on the river.

Let us all face it - Kevin could always be relied upon to organise a party.

It was no doubt his excellent organisational party skills that led to Kevin being part of a small, select team that were bought together to arrange regional sittings of Parliament in Townsville, Rockhampton, Cairns and Mackay over a ten year period. Kevin was one of only a handful of people that was intimately involved in each and every one of these events - from bump in to bump out. Yes Kevin was a parliamentary roadie.

Kevin was there for all aspects - always in the centre of the action.

Despite the hard work associated with these events - the key people involved formed l(ey bonds and friendships. I know it was through these regional sittings that Kevin formed close bonds with some people who are here today, such as myself at the Townsville sitting, Kerryn Newton who project managed the Rockhampton sitting, Lyndell Bates who project managed the Cairns sitting Kellie

4

Moule who project managed the Mackay sitting and the former Deputy Clerk Siwan Davies who has come up from Canberra today to pay her respects to Kevin.

A few of my own best memories of Kevin arise from these events.

At the Townsville sitting, on the last day as we were packing up, Kevin became very upset with me because I had allowed the majority of staff to take off before they had to catch their flight. Kevin was outraged that everyone was not forced to stay until everything was pacl(ed. Now everyone here knew Kevin - he definitely let you lmow what he thought. In that respect we were both similar, so it led to an interesting "discussion" - well let's face it there was a fair bit of swearing and yelling. Anyway when the argument started there were about 10-15 people in close proximity. At the end of the argument, Kevin said to me: "Well fair enough you're the boss, but you know what I think!" I said: "Well fair enough I know what you think, but I am the boss." To us the argument was then concluded. No hard feelings. We both looked around and could not see anyone, they had all bolted obviously fearful of the cross fire.

5

Now Kevin and I had virtually the same argument after the Rockhampton and Cairns sitting. But in Mackay- guess what?- I did it Kevin's way- he had a way of wearing you down even if it took ten years. He still wasn't happy though. I think he just missed the regular fight.

Another great memory I have is at the sitting in Cairns. The community engagement section had made large photographic cut outs of various officers of the parliament: the Speaker, the Clerk the Sergeant at Arms. One lunch hour Leah, my fiance and I slipped out to Vinnies and got the most slinky bright pink dress we could find. After the sittings we put the dress on the model of Kevin Jones. The model, I should mention was of Kevin dressed in full regalia with the Mace over his shoulder. The pink dress was stretched over his bearded form, the bottom part of the mace jutted out a little so that the pink dress was a little skew­if.

Kevin came around the comer and saw his cut out in the hot pink dress. He maintained a completely impassive face, stared at where the dress jutted out

6

because of the mace and simply said "that dress makes my bum look big".

The cut out of Kevin is now in the possession of the Jones' family - and Kellie tells me that they will probably end up dressing up the cut out of their dad with a red Santa hat at Christmas'.

Kevin made friends easily. I remember very well a delegation from the United Kingdom visiting Queensland in around 2001. Kevin was involved in taking the delegation around. The delegation was led by Mrs Helen Liddell, also known as the Right Honourable the Baroness Liddell of Coatdyke. The Baroness later became the British High Commissioner to Australia. I later discovered that Kevin and Vicki had become quite friendly with the Baroness and her husband Alistair and dinned with them in Australia and the UK. I joked that we should call Kevin the Right Honourable the Baron of Kedron Brook upon Mitchie. We can only hope that Kevin minded his Ps and Qs a bit -but I doubt it.

Kevin was omnipresent at Parliament. He was everywhere. He knew everything. He liked to let you know he knew everything. He was not short of

7

an opinion, always ready to offer an opinion and most likely an argument if you didn't agree with his opinion. But the arguments always ended with line "Well I am just saying that is all, your call, but I am just saying". Of course, if anything went wrong he would then say "Well I did tell you".

At Parliament Kevin was like a father to some, a little bit like a mad uncle to others and a friend to pretty well everyone.

He was an excellent source of gossip and I would catch up with him, and the gossip, pretty well most days as he would have his morning coffee ritual with his friend and my secretary Sandy Musch.

Kevin was so well liked that he could get away with things that others could not, because they knew there was never any malice intended - and simply because he was Kevin, or KJ as most people called him.

For example, he would walk past the Hansard girls' rooms and if anyone looked over at him he would give them the forks and keep walking. If it had been any one else I would have had a complaint lodged. But it was KJ.

8

One of his female co-workers introduced KJ to her new fiance - KJ' s response was to look conspicuously all around the fiance - when asked what he was doing he said "lool<ing for his guide dog". If it had of been any one else I would have had a complaint lodged. But it was KJ.

About five years ago I could tell that Kevin was starting to prepare to leave the Parliament. There were more frequent and longer trips with Vicki abroad. To an ever increasing number of interesting locations - I mean how many people go to ICELAND?

Then in about August last year Kevin started his pre-retirement leave.

He had a little farewell party for those that knew pretty well that he would not come back to work and would retire, eventually.

I still have Kevin's invitation to this little gathering - and I shall read the passage that follows venue and time:

Entertainment

9

In recognition of our long standing friendship Michael Hickey has decided to place a $100 on the bar to buy us all a drink to mark the occaszon.

This event will be the highlight of the night as no one has ever actually seen M H's wallet/purse.

Anticipated script

Michael will tearfully withdraw his wallet (kept in his undies for security purposes) and slowly place 20 neatly folded $5 notes (could be pounds) on the bar.

I am certainly very grateful to M H for volunteering to perform this death defYing act to ensure everyone has an enjoyable night.

Get there early to get a good seat and witness a once in a lifetime experience.

Please RSVP for catering purposes as the budget will only permit each guest:

10

1 x drink (tap water)

Choice of a sausage roll or cheerio. Please circle preferred delicacy.

When Kevin started his extended leave, those that remained at work then had to endure his travel logs and other witty comments via email, like:

At Co.ffs Harbour sucking on a schooner of Tooheys Old.

By the way how's WORK ?

And then, even though he was in Spain, or Portugal or in a flat in Chester out of the blue I would still get an email from Kevin giving me a bullocking about something that had happened here in Brisbane and he had heard about it!

Did I mention that Kevin could be a bit of a gossip?

In one of our last email exchanges I told him that I always held him in the greatest respect even though he was moody and cranky and on

11

occasions prone to temper tantrums. I also told him he had a holiday to get on with.

That email exchange ended like this:

Neil

As you are aware I say what I think and those are my feelings.

I appreciate your comments and agree with a number of them.

It's obvious from the length of your email that things are quite at Parl. House. :) :) You obviously haven't had your coffee yet.

I get the moody cranky characteristics from the Clerk of Parliament.

And yes I am on a holiday which I am enjoying immensely

Mate you know me better than anyone there and that I will always say what I think. Believe it or not I am sometimes wrong however I am always upfront.

12

KJ

The last two sentences of that email sums up Kevin perfectly.

Kevin and Vicl(i had only attended Parliament the Wednesday before his passing for his official retirement dinner and was present in the gallery for a statement about his service to the House.

I know that his many friends that saw him that evening are so very grateful to have seen him before his passing, although seeing him in apparently good health so soon before his passing left us all the more shocked.

To Vicki, Adam, Kellie and Matthew, I know that the thoughts of everyone here today are with you.

Adam, Kellie and Matthew - you must know that KJ talked about you all the time and was so very proud of you all and your achievements and exploits.

Vick:i it was obvious to all that he loved you deeply and you were truly his soul mate.

13

I know that you will all regret not having another ten or twenty years with KJ.

For my part, I am so very glad that in the last few years KJ and Vicki travelled and experienced so much.

I am so very glad that KJ had a full and happy life.

We will all see you later mate.

14