Letter to Fred and Freda Canaris

30 April 1999

Correspondence to Fred and Freda Canaris, long-term Territory family and supporters following the retirement of Shane Stone as Chief Minister of Australia's Northern Territory. Fred and Freda came to the Stone home in Larrakeyah on Sunday, February 7, the day before Shane Stone, publicly announced his resignation as Chief Minister. They were amongst a small group invited to call in to hear first hand what had transpired. Many wanted to fight, call out the agitators and stare them down. Shane and Josephine had a different view, it was time to go and do it gracefully which is exactly what happened. Shane tendered his resignation on Sunday 7 February to the Acting Administrator Mrs Mina Sitzler AM and the news had not broken; that occurred on National Television Channel 9 on Monday 8 February 1999. The NT News also carried the front page story 'Stone to quit today' same day. Both media outlets had respected the embargo requested of them. The Managing Editor of News Limited in the NT Mr Don Kennedy was among the well-wishers who dropped by. Shane later wrote to a number of those who had called by the Stone home. Extract: ''The Statehood Referendum was a disappointment but it was far outweighed by the knowledge that a sound economic framework had been laid down for the Territory's future, sound policies across a raft of areas had been implemented and the success of the 1997 General Election''. Shane also wrote: ''I wish Denis Burke and his team every success for the future''. See Archive Documents NT News Editorial 'Platform for Growth.



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