He says, “He had pretty firm views on most (issues) and would not buckle under pressure group attacks.”

I found this to be true, but also that once you had convinced Joe that there was a better way, he would work until the goal was achieved.

We heard last week about how Joe ensured that CSU would be an independent rural university rather than an annexe of the University of NSW.

We know about the Gobba Bridge, and how he fought for the new Junee Jail when it was nearly stolen by a northern NSW colleague.

We know about his community service long after “retirement”, such as heading the Riverina Cancer Care Centre appeal, from which I have personally benefited greatly.

I wasn’t always a Joe Schipp fan.

Our relationship soured after the 1988 election. I told part of this story a month ago.

The Liberal Party had promised not to close Tatton Public School, which my children attended. Joe chose the 10th anniversary Tatton celebrations one Saturday afternoon in 1989 to announce to the happy crowd that the Liberal Government had decided to close Tatton after all.

I was one of the parents who made my displeasure known quite loudly.

Then fate took a hand.

I was transferred to Kooringal Public School (KPS) as principal.

Joe had promised Tatton and Kooringal parents improvements at KPS, such as a new hall.

As a public servant I was now clearly on the other side of the political argument!

As KPS Principal I asked to see the hall plans.

It was immediately evident that the off-the-shelf design was far too small for an expanding school.

I invited Joe to visit.

With the P&C president we stepped out the floor space of the proposed hall - hardly bigger than a classroom in size!

A proper hall, or none, we argued.

Joe explained that this was a difficult case to argue. The planned hall was the correct size for our school’s present size. 

“Let’s go to Sturt and measure their hall, and we’ll settle for one like that!” I replied. Joe knew a hall like Sturt’s was out of the question.

Besides, he added, the money was coming from the Premier’s Contingency Fund, and we were lucky to be getting any hall at all!

The P&C President Graeme Whytcross and I stuck to the facts. We needed a proper hall, befitting the promise to parents.

Now think about Bruce Webster’s comment. Joe thought about our case, and as good as his word, he went back to the Premier and explained the ludicrous situation.

I think, too, he was genuinely embarrassed by the Government reneging on the Tatton promise, and intended to ensure redress.

The hall plans were expanded by one module, still not what we wanted, but better than the first pitiful plan. From that point I came to realise that Joe Schipp would listen, and rattle cages until there was action.

As the years passed we became quite good friends, even into Joe’s old age. We often talked about the background to political issues. His mind was still as sharp as a tack.

When Wagga lost Joe and Rhonda Schipp we lost two valuable achievers. I trust that Wagga will fittingly honour their memory.