30TH NOVEMBER 2023 - LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY - NSW PARLIAMENT
Ms LIZA BUTLER (South Coast) (21:14): I acknowledge and celebrate Terry Snow, AM, of Bawley Point on the eve of his eightieth birthday. I am honoured to have Tom Snow in the gallery tonight to listen to my private member's statement about his wonderful father. Terry Snow is many things: businessman, forensic accountant, entrepreneur and philanthropist, husband, father, grandfather, and lover of horses and cattle dogs. Terry is the executive chairman of the Capital Airport Group, which contains Canberra Airport and Brindabella Business Park. If members have been to the award-winning Canberra Airport, they will understand when I say that everything that Terry Snow does is exceptional and sets the bar for others to follow, which is especially true for architecture and design.
I first met Terry Snow in June 2016 after our beloved gantry at Bawley Point was washed away during an east coast low that saw many structures along the New South Wales coast demolished by the powerful ocean. The gantry had been standing at Bawley Beach for over 100 years, and it was a rite of passage for local children and holiday-makers alike to get the courage to jump off it. When it washed away, the community was devastated. We all came together at a public meeting to discuss resurrecting our beloved gantry. Terry was sitting a few seats away from me at the meeting. After I had risen to speak on the importance of getting our gantry rebuilt, Terry stood up and stated, "We need a committee and I nominate this woman to be the chair." I am not sure that Terry and I are on the same side of politics, and I am more than certain that neither of us realised at the time that this small action would be the first stepping stone in my career in politics.
Nonetheless, with the generosity of the Snow family and much letter writing and meetings with council by myself, the gantry was rebuilt at Bawley Point so that generations of children and their families can use it for the next 100-plus years. This was the first of many actions of generosity undertaken by Terry Snow that I have personally witnessed, and all for the benefit of others. Terry once told me that he found a love of horses late in life. In 2017 Terry and Ginette opened Willinga Park, an award-winning 810-hectare equine facility in Bawley Point. Willinga Park was developed to include an equestrian centre, with three Olympic-size dressage arenas, showjumping fields, a campdrafting area, an education centre and now, undeniably, Australia's finest purpose-built vet hospital. If members are visiting the South Coast, they should put Willinga Park on their list. I highly recommend the campdrafting event for a great day out.
While family is paramount for Terry, I have no doubt that of all Terry Snow's many career achievements Willinga Park would be the one he is most proud of. Willinga Park combines the finest equine facilities and stunning architecture with the latest in equine technology and a visitor experience like no other. Willinga Park has received numerous awards, including the Australian Institute of Architects' 2017 National Architecture Awards; the National Award for Commercial Architecture; the 2017 Master Builders Association awards as project of the year; and the 2017 ACT Architecture Awards, at which Willinga Park won the Hayward Morris Award for interior architecture; and the Romaldo Giurgola Award for Public Architecture.
While I became aware of Terry's philanthropy with the rebuilding of the gantry, it was the 2019-20 Currowan fire that showed Terry's true generosity. Terry installed solar-powered automatic generators at our two local RFS stations so that we did not lose communications or water supply when faced with an emergency. The Snow Foundation, under the banner of the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal, has provided rural communities with funds to strengthen the capacity and capability of local people, organisations, networks and systems that help communities to prevent and prepare for future climate-related impacts and recover from existing disasters. I have seen numerous organisations, staff members and initiatives benefit from this program along the South Coast. I know that everyone is the better for Terry's generosity, and we are extremely grateful. Mr Temporary Speaker, may I ask for a short extension of time?
TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Mr Alex Greenwich): The member for South Coast is not able to ask for an extension of time, but she may finish her contribution at the House's indulgence.
Ms LIZA BUTLER: I know that there are many other acts of kindness and generosity that Terry has personally undertaken quietly and without any fanfare. I will finish by telling members a story that sums up Terry Snow for me. It was a hot summer's evening and I went to the beach for a swim. The gantry was in the process of being rebuilt and Terry and Ginette were there having a look at the progress. They were accompanied by a couple of cattle dogs. Terry and I were chatting, discussing our dogs and talking about how the gantry was a rite of passage for our children and what was happening at Willinga Park, when Terry turned to me and said, "You know, at the end of the day, it's all about kids and dogs." I wish Mr Snow a happy eightieth birthday. I hope he enjoys his special day with his beloved family. I look forward to seeing him at home in Bawley Point.
