Former Central Coast Labor MP Grant McBride farewelled
GRANT McBride was a loving family man with an “enormous energy for life”.
Central Coast
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GRANT McBride was a loving family man with an “enormous energy for life”.
The long-serving Central Coast state Labor MP has been farewelled, with hundreds of mourners gathering at St Mary’s Catholic Church in Noraville this morning. He died on Monday at the age of 68, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
His daughter, Dobell federal Labor MP Emma McBride, thanked the care services which helped look after her dad and the community for their ongoing support.
“Our father was someone who we loved and respected, and it is just such an honour for us to call him our dad,” she said.
Grant McBride’s son and “offsider” William gave his dad’s eulogy and paid tribute to his mum Barbara McBride, who was Mr McBride’s full time carer. The McBride’s were married for 46 years and had eight children and 12 grandchildren.
“Mum, no one could have asked for more,” Mr McBride said. “You took a terrible situation and carried it on your shoulders. You stood by him until his final breath.”
He said the couple supported each other through all the highs and lows over the years.
“It’s hard to point out where dad starts and where mum ends,” he said.
Mr McBride described his father as an “extremely loyal friend who would help out whenever he could”. In fact he loved to help people move house with his beloved trailer, and was very proud of the knots he used to tie loads down.
He said childhood trips to the tip always turned into “an adventure” and his dad’s home workshop was enough to rival any Kennards Hire Shop.
Mr McBride said his dad had “enormous energy for life”.
“It was almost as if there was enough energy inside him for two to three people,” he said.
Backyard cricket was a professional in all areas and, when it came to the campaign trail, Mr McBride threw everything into it.
“He and Emma (McBride) spent a lot of time together. He enjoyed campaigning with Emma and said she was good at it,” Mr McBride said.
His other great passions in life were the Parramatta Eels, Rocky movies, Australian Cricket Team and the Australian Labor Party.
“Some of his happiest moments were watching Parramatta play,” Mr McBride said. “When he was working in the city, he would go to a game at Parramatta Stadium and then go back to Frankies Pizza Bar to watch the replay.”
Mr McBride was a qualified engineer who worked as an electorate officer for former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam. He was elected as the Member for The Entrance in a 1992 by-election, and held the seat until his retirement in 2011.
Mr McBride was appointed Minister for Gaming and Racing in 2003 and was also made Minister for the Central Coast in 2005.
He was described as a “true leader” who wanted to effect change for the better.
“Most important (to dad) was being out and about in the community,” Mr McBride said. “He was absolutely thrilled when he got funding for a program. He delighted in every single moment.”
After the service, family and friends gathered at Toowoon Bay Surf Life Saving Club and placed roses into the bay in memory of Mr McBride.