MP’s supporters one-eyed: [1 All-round Country Edition]
Stapleton, John. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 05 Apr 2004: 16.
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Abstract
Students from a tiny bush school felt so sorry for Liberal backbencher Alby Schultz, who lost the sight in his eye last November, that they decided to do something for their local MP.
Now, just as he promised the students at Crookwell, in parliament each day Mr Schultz has been wearing a different, brightly coloured eye patch.
The designs by the students include the Australian flag, skull and cross bones, a cyclops head, an easter egg with stripes on it and others with feel-good messages such as “Poor Alby” and “My friend Alby”. “They have used their imagination,” Mr Schultz said.
Full Text
A MAN with brightly coloured eye-patches has been seen roaming the corridors of federal parliament.
Students from a tiny bush school felt so sorry for Liberal backbencher Alby Schultz, who lost the sight in his eye last November, that they decided to do something for their local MP.
Mr Schultz lost the use of his eye after an accident with pool chemicals.
When they heard the news, the 59 students from Laggan Public School, near Crookwell on the NSW southern tablelands, designed a batch of fashion eye patches and sent them to the one-eyed MP.
The Member for Hume is one of the country’s most colourful politicians; one of those who is unlikely to grace the front bench because of his blunt, outspoken ways.
He ran away from a difficult home situation when he was 14, and at one time slept under a bridge over the Murray River — before people took pity and helped him to create a new life for himself.
Now, just as he promised the students at Crookwell, in parliament each day Mr Schultz has been wearing a different, brightly coloured eye patch.
The designs by the students include the Australian flag, skull and cross bones, a cyclops head, an easter egg with stripes on it and others with feel-good messages such as “Poor Alby” and “My friend Alby”. “They have used their imagination,” Mr Schultz said.
“It tells you heaps about our most precious asset, our children, how switched on they are, what lovely little hearts they have got.
“It indicates the parents are teaching the right thing about compassion for your fellow man, and it is being carried over into the schools by the teachers.”
Mr Schultz told parliament the students, aged between six and 11, were very concerned about his accident.
“These young people were very, very upset about the fact that I had injured my eye,” he said.
“They presented me with about 50 eye patches, and they’re typical of the imagination of young children. Some of them are quite funny.
“The one that I’m wearing today is another colourful one, and it says, `Poor Alby’.
“I think that gives you an indication of just how caring young children are.” Mr Schultz has travelled around local schools in his electorate telling children about his disability and warning them against the dangers of chemicals.
“I have been taking flags around the schools in the electorate and the kids invariably see you and spot the patch,” he said.
“You have anywhere from 15 to 20 little kiddies from six to 11- years-old talking to you and expressing their concern about the loss of your sight.
“They ask you all sorts of intimate questions about it. Then they build up courage and ask — can we have a look at your eye?”
At the end of the school talks teachers often asked the students what they had learnt.
“We have to listen to our parents and teachers about not going near chemicals,” is the response.
Laggan Public School principal Lyn Collett said that being a rural school, the children had been excited about a visit by such a high-profile figure as Mr Schultz.
She said he seemed quite overwhelmed at being presented with 55 eye patches, and the students seemed convinced that their designs would be much better than the plain one he was wearing.
“The kids learnt that accidents can happen in your own backyard if you let them,” Ms Collett said. “They learnt to give thought to those people who have had accidents.”