Wednesday, June 1, 2011

John Hession remembers Alf Nicholls

Alf Nicholls (1918-2011)

The death occurred recently in Canberra of former Department of the House of Representatives staff member Alf Nicholls.  Alf worked in the Department from November 1970 until he retired in April 1979 and I was fortunate to work with him during my time in the House in the late 1970"s.

Alf was a one time personnel officer and later committee staff member of the House Expenditure Committee.  This was during the time when Vic Garland was committee chairman (later to be a minister in the Fraser government and High Commissioner to the UK).  It was also a time when parliamentary committee staff were located in the old Hotel Canberra, now the Hyatt Hotel.

Alf was a long time resident of Reid and was famous for often walking to work.  He and his wonderful wife Jean were staunch members of the nearby Reid Uniting Church.  Alf was also a very keen gardner (both flowers and vegetables) and an officeholder in the Canberra District Historical Society.

Canberra will be much poorer for his passing.  He was such a kind, caring man, a real gentleman.

PS Alf's brother and Lyn Eveston's father, Bert Nicholls, also died recently.  Many alumni will have fond memories of Bert who was a long time employee of the Department of the Senate.