Two great locals died recently.
One, a prince of the church but a very down-to-earth and humble man, Bishop Pat Power; and the other, a successful ACT Rugby manager of the 1980s, foundation Brumbies ACTRU president, and mentor of many a young rugby player and young lawyer, the late David Barton Lewis of Queanbeyan Rugby Club.
Pat Power was a good, loyal Catholic who was never afraid to call out injustices, even if he trod on a few conservative toes in his own church. Pat, a lifelong supporter of the Rabbitohs, always went in to bat for the underdog. He ministered the Catholic faith in prisons, supported refugees, the homeless, gays and other then-marginalised groups. He was appalled by sexual abuse in the church and, whilst honouring the Catholic sacrament of marriage between a man and a woman, went out of his way to make minority groups such as LGBTI people welcome in the church.
I disagreed with his stance on a number of matters, especially the Middle East and Palestine, but I always respected his views and admired him for being such a great man.
He officiated at my wife’s funeral, and I was delighted when my now-deceased younger son Joe gave him a signed picture of the victorious Rabbitohs team from their grand final win in 2014. Joe had picked it up at an auction run by another great Canberran, the late Gordon Scott, to help Nepalese earthquake victims. (Joe was a Raiders supporter after all, and did not need it.) We were delighted to hear that Pat kept it in pride of place in his office. The world would be a better place if there were more Pat Powers in it.
Indeed, it would too if there were more David Lewises around. D. B. Lewis was born in Wagga and came to Canberra as a young lawyer. He worked with several Queanbeyan firms before settling with Crossin & Co, where he mentored many young solicitors — not only in the law, but more importantly in life and ethics.
David was a small lower-grade halfback with the Queanbeyan Whites, but his strengths lay in his amazing organisational and administrative abilities, and his gift for relating to both players and officials. He formed a formidable combination with the late, great ACT coach Bob Hitchcock, serving as manager alongside him for the brilliantly successful ACT senior rugby representative team of the 1980s — a side that swept all before them, starting with Wales, then Fiji, Argentina and France. For their efforts, both men were awarded an OAM in recognition of their services.
Many a talented young player benefited from David’s help. He was not only a great manager but also a wonderful confidant and friend. He mentored such greats as David Campese, Michael O’Connor, Col Perman, Adam Duthie, Geoff Didier, Frank Lopilato, George Gregan, Joe Roff and Owen Finegan, to name just a few.
He was instrumental, as President of the ACTRU and Brumbies Chairman, in getting the Brumbies up and running. And together with Brigadier Peter Cosgrove, then Commandant of RMC, he helped get RMC back into the ACT rugby competition.
Farewell, old mate — and may God pick you to manage the heavenly First XV.
