Syd was one of my closest business associates throughout the 1980s. Together, we undertook many national and international electricity industry projects. I counted him as a friend, beyond the usual appellation 'business associate'. I identified entirely with the descriptions of Syd in his moving obituary and remembered fondly our many enthusiastic conversations on ALP politics, social justice, football, cricket and the beer at the Mitre Tavern. Perhaps my favourite personal memory of Syd concerns an international conference he and I organised in Canberra in the winter of [I think] 1985. At the conference dinner, Syd noticed it was snowing outside. He rushed over to me and said 'Mate, that little fellow from New Guineau will barely know what snow is; we have to take him out into it - it'll be the experience of a lifetime for him'. So we did. And Syd was right; the nervous, somewhat reticent manager was miraculously transformed into an ecstatic little boy. Syd was utterly chuffed, as excited himself as the New Guinean was. He said to me 'we've done well here, mate'. And so we [he] had. I read Syd's obituary with warm sadness and shall continue to think fondly of him from time to time. Sincere condolences to his family of whom he often spoke to me.