The Belco Party mourns the death of Canberra legend, founder of Summernats and inaugural party member, Chic Henry. 

“Our thoughts go out to Chic’s wife Deb and family at this sad time,” Belco Party convenor Bill Stefaniak said.

“It was an honour and privilege to know Chic Henry since 1989 and to have had the opportunity to work with him during the 2020 local election campaign. The Belco Party almost got a seat and it was out of me and Chic who would get it. I would have loved to have seen Chic get up; he would have been a fantastic member of the Assembly. 

” hic was all about helping his local community He was a former ARA soldier and national water polo player and in the 1980s he started Summernats in Canberra. Summernats brought thousands of car lovers to Canberra at an otherwise dead time of year and brought lots of enjoyment to many people, not to mention much-needed revenue into our city.

“One of my fondest memories of Chic was on New Year’s Eve 1989-1990  when some of the Summernats crowd got a bit out of hand. I was out with Inspector Graeme Taylor and we counted 83 somewhat inebriated guys in the city watch house that night. There were calls to ban it as a result.

“Thanks to Chic’s positive suggestions as to how it could do better next year, and the fact all the coppers I spoke to didn’t mind the trouble and liked the overtime, the new Alliance government (where I had responsibilities for Police and Sport) did not ban it but conducted, courtesy of Chic, the redoutable minister for Urban Services Craig Duby and myself, an economic impact survey which showed that the ACT spent $118,000 on it ($88,000 police overtime and $30,000 for Urban services traffic control, etc.,) and the Summernats brought in $5,100,000 – a positive ratio of for every $1 we spent we got more than $40-plus back. It was a no-brainer – it stayed and the 1990/91 event was brilliantly run by Chic and his crew without any problems. I still have a photo of my colleague MLA Robyn Nolan, Chic and my then 16-year-old son John in a vintage sports car at the Nats. Great memories.

“Goodbye old friend and thanks for all you have done for the ACT and your community. A great Australian and a great Canberran,” Mr Stefaniak said.

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