Wal Fife has been remembered as a statesman, a hard-working parliamentarian and devoted family man.
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Mr Fife’s family, friends and former colleagues gathered at St John’s Anglican Church in Wagga on Thursday to farewell the former state and federal MP, who died last week at the age of 88.
The service was led by retired Catholic Archbishop Francis Carroll, a long-time friend of the Fife family.
Archbishop Carroll said he had been friends with Mr Fife for 50 years and, in recent times, “he requested that I conduct his funeral”.
“Although, his requests were often royal commands,” Archbishop Carroll recalled fondly.
The Archbishop noted the work done by Mr Fife and his wife Marcia with the Wagga Catholic Diocese, particularly for Calvary Hospital.
“He was devoted to his family and had a life-long passion for politics,” Archbishop Carroll said.
“He was a very available and generous local member, and he held a number of ministries.”
Archbishop Carroll recalled that he had first met the former member for Wagga, member for Farrer and member for Hume in Rome, when Mr Fife had been visiting Bishop Henschke.
“Since then I have often enjoyed hospitality in Wal’s home,” he said.
“He had pretty strong opinions on everything.”
Joe Schipp, the former member for Wagga and a long-time friend of the Fife family, had been due to give the euology at Mr Fife’s funeral. Sadly, Mr Schipp died unexpectedly on Thursday morning.
The current member for Wagga, Daryl Maguire, spoke instead at the service.
He recalled how he had spoken to Mr Fife the night before he died, and been able to tell him that he’d been awarded life membership of the Liberal Party in recognition of his many years of service.
“Wal, in many ways, was a trailblazer,” Mr Maguire said.
Mr Fife was elected on his third attempt and was made a minister at the age of 35 before going on to hold myriad portfolios, Mr Maguire said.
“Wal was politically motivated from a very young age. He used to play elections,” Mr Maguire said.
“He would collect the voting slips from his mum and dad and had cardboard boxes in the garage to play elections.
“He lived and breathed politics.”
Member for Riverina Michael McCormack, member for Farrer Sussan Ley, former member for Riverina Kay Hull, former Liberal senator Bill Heffernan and Wagga mayor Greg Conkey attended the service.
Mr Fife is survived by his wife Marcia, sons David and Allan and daughters Carolyn Ravensberg and Sue Killalea and their families.
