Extract from ABC News
Updated
Hundreds of people have turned out to pay tribute to
former Queensland Labor premier Wayne Goss at a public memorial service
in Brisbane.
Mr Goss was known as 'Mr 70 Per Cent' for his high public approval rating during his time as Queensland premier.He died at the age of 63 at home in Brisbane in the early hours of November 10 from a recurrent brain tumour.
The family held a private funeral for him earlier this week, but today the public paid their respects at a memorial service at the Gallery of Modern Art at South Brisbane.
The Goss family had declined Premier Campbell Newman's offer of a state funeral in line with Mr Goss's desire to have a public memorial service organised and hosted by his family.
Members of the Goss family were joined at the service by former governor-generals Bill Hayden and Quentin Bryce, former prime minister Kevin Rudd, Premier Campbell Newman, former Queensland premiers Peter Beattie, Rob Borbidge and Anna Bligh, Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk and corruption fighter Tony Fitzgerald, as well as business leaders.
Goss never asked 'why me?'
Roisin Goss spoke of her late husband's "utter dignity, grace and tenacity".We are immensely proud of the way that Wayne lived his life, and of the way that he faced his death. We will love him always.Roisin Goss
"During the 17-year on-and-off battle with brain tumours, Wayne showed extraordinary courage, strength and determination," she said.
"He never asked 'why me?', but he was always extremely positive in his attitude - making the very best of his situation and enjoying the present.
"We would like to thank you, the people of Queensland and Australia, for your heartening public and private tributes to Wayne and for sharing your memories of him.
"We are immensely proud of the way that Wayne lived his life, and of the way that he faced his death. We will love him always."
His daughter Caitlin spoke at the service on behalf of herself and her brother Ryan.
"Our father was a runner - he was always a runner at heart and adhered to these principles throughout his life - look ahead, don't ever stop," she said.
"When he wasn't running, he was walking quickly - the thing I keep returning to is him walking, never stopping, setting a good pace.
"Thank you to everyone who has walked with our father and walked with our family these past years. Keep him in your heart as you walk forwards."
'A private man'
Friend and former colleague Dr Glyn Davis said Mr Goss was a private man.
"I can't help but wonder, however, whether Wayne would welcome a room full of people gathered to talk about him, because he was a private man," he said.
"He avoided personal questions. He eluded profile writers. He was reluctant to talk about himself. He did not look back.
"But then, Wayne did like to get together with friends on a Friday afternoon.
"The Courier-Mail honoured Wayne with a superb front page, and a great quote by which he will be remembered: 'Thank you, Queensland, you have been good to me. I hope I've left you a better place'."
Dr Davis said Mr Goss rarely spoke of his time in politics.
Thank you, Wayne. You were good to us. And you leave Queensland a far, far better place.Dr Glyn Davis
"There was little reminiscing. No memoir. No self-pity when that first tumour was followed by others," he said.
"He met friends as often as possible. His family gathered to celebrate the wedding of Amy and [his son] Ryan and [daughter] Caitlin's birthday, and to stay near as the illness took its course.
"Thank you, Wayne. You were good to us. And you leave Queensland a far, far better place."
A Labor Party 'hero'
Former federal deputy prime minister and treasurer Wayne Swan, a friend and colleague of Mr Goss's since 1983, said he was a "party hero" to the ALP."Only rarely, usually only once in every second or perhaps third political generation, our party experiences a breakthrough moment - it's when party heroes are truly made," he said.
Gough Whitlam, Neville Wran, Don Dunstan, John Cain. All great, greatly recognised Labor leaders ... Wayne was one of those breakthrough leaders.Wayne Swan
"Gough Whitlam, Neville Wran, Don Dunstan, John Cain. All great, greatly recognised Labor leaders ... Wayne was one of those breakthrough leaders.
"Wayne gave us all the opportunity to change the state we love for the better - to drag it into the sunlight after 32 years in the darkness.
"But the great thing about Wayne is that he inspired by his example. And for him, it wasn't about ego. It's what he wanted for the people that he represented."
Friend Matt Foley, who met Wayne Goss in the first half of the 1970s and was Wayne's best man when he married Roisin in 1981, spoke of his strong work ethic and love of family.
They worked together before embarking on their political careers, with Mr Foley serving as a minister in both the Goss and Beattie governments.
"He realised that the task of seizing government for Labor could be achieved only through hard work and application - he dedicated himself to that end," Mr Foley said.
"In so doing, he restored democracy, decency and opportunity for the people of Queensland.
"Above all else, he loved Roisin, his children, Ryan and Caitlin, his mum, Norma, and his entire family."
The Goss family chose to hold the memorial at the Gallery of Modern Art because it was built during the time Mr Goss was chairman.
Mr Goss served as chair of the Queensland Art Gallery Board of Trustees from 1999 to 2008.
In 1989, Mr Goss became the first Labor premier after 32 years of National Party rule.
He served as premier until 1996 and at the time also held the arts ministerial portfolio.
In 1997, when he was 46, Mr Goss was diagnosed with a brain tumour.
The diagnosis came as a shock as he had been extremely fit, and prompted him to abandon plans to enter Federal Parliament.
Mr Goss had brain surgery three more times, most recently in April this year.
He is survived by his wife Roisin and children Ryan and Caitlin.
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