Town Talk | Brophy’s bold moves and big impact

I really don’t want to get into the painful Australia Day situation; however, it was Anthony’s battle to have that decision adjusted, which precipitated our coffee meeting last week. A little more on that later.

Getting to know ‘Broph’

Anthony was born in New Zealand, and his family arrived in Shepparton when he was two years old. He was educated at Wilmot Road and St Mel’s Primary schools and later at St Colman’s College.

Some of you will be interested to read that Jenny Houlihan was his teacher in third grade.

His first job was with the Department of Foreign Affairs, and while living in Melbourne, he took the opportunity for further study at RMIT. However, he soon came home.

It was a busy period. He was working at the RACV in ‘Touring and Travelling’ and learnt a great deal from his many trips abroad. He completed an Advanced Certificate in Management, was raising a family, studying Japanese, becoming a travel agent, was a Sessional Teacher at TAFE, and was part of a RACV consultative committee that negotiated with management to reach an Enterprise Bargaining Agreement.

By now, my head was spinning — but we had only just begun.

Politics comes calling

Broph was then appointed case manager for Sharman Stone, who was, of course, Federal Member for Murray. It was late 1999. His job was to assist people with a problem and, hopefully, find a solution. Dr Stone became a junior minister in the Howard Government and Anthony, later on, became her media adviser. Somehow, during this demanding period, he undertook the Fairley Leadership Program.

He worked with Dr Stone until the end of 2007 when a new career beckoned. He became a wellbeing officer at a number of Catholic primary schools. His job was to support the needs of students, families and teachers. But simultaneously, there were other things going on. He was on the board of another primary school and appointed to various committees across various fields — educational boards, the tennis club, junior sport and the Fairley Leadership Network. As a school board representative, in 2008, he was asked to attend a conference and study trip across Canada in respect to self-directed learning.

A pause

I’m exhausted merely writing about Anthony’s activities — so I want to tell you a story. At the beginning of our chat, I’d asked for a couple of highlights of his career. He didn’t specify anything in particular, so I’ve chosen one that happens to fit in here.

His next position was as program facilitator of the Fairley Leadership Program. He had arranged to take our future leaders to Spring St to meet our state’s leaders, including Daniel Andrews.

Personally, I can think of better examples of leadership — but that’s just my opinion.

Anyway, when they arrived, they were told that Mr Andrews would not be available as promised. However, when Broph glanced down a corridor, he saw the premier — with a couple of mates — heading to the members-only dining room for lunch. Broph proceeded to interrupt the lunch and politely informed Daniel that he had brought these people from Shepparton and asked if a few minutes could be spared to meet them. To reluctantly give the man his due, Daniel didn’t hesitate. He cheerfully left his companions and went to have a pleasant chat with Broph and his team.

I think this was particularly well done and clearly gave us all a broader understanding of Anthony Brophy; nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Now, where was I?

Of course, while working with the Fairley Leadership Program, he continued as a wellbeing officer at two schools. He also spent 11 years as a presenter of ‘Broph’s Vinyl Vault’ with Matt Dowling on ABC Goulburn Murray radio’s morning program.

Back to politics

Anthony was appointed chief of staff to Damian Drum when he was Federal Member for Murray. Damian was chief whip and then became assistant minister to the deputy prime minister. It was a busy and interesting time. Broph then became office manager for Senator Bridget McKenzie. However, the distance to work became an issue for him — a two-hour drive to the office every day and back was a bit much.

He took a six-month contract as chief executive with Alpine Valleys Community Leadership and went from there to his current position in 2020. He is currently the media and engagement (leadership) officer with Notre Dame College. He appears to be enjoying this role immensely — but it seems to me that he has enjoyed all of the work he has undertaken. He is at his job four days each week to enable him to keep up with council work.

That same year, he was elected to council and was deputy mayor in 2021 and 2022.

As you will see from the photos, Anthony has a lovely wife, Jacqui. He also has three smart and athletic sons. If I appear to have added the family as an afterthought, I assure you that is not how Broph feels. You should see his eyes light up when he talks about them.

Australia Day

Council originally decided that Australia Day gatherings, held on January 26, would not be funded. To me, that felt like judgment and punishment — our way or the highway. Anthony said that, when attending all these events, he understood that the decision had been unfair. He also saw Shepparton people prepared to take a drive rather than attend their own city’s event on another day.

He spoke out and said they had been wrong. With the support of Mayor Shane Sali, he took the matter back to council to have it reviewed. Shane had formed the same opinion after attending events. The result was funding for all Australia Day activities, regardless of the date. The vote was four to three.

It was brave and honest, and I respect the courage and self-awareness necessary. What politician of any stripe or colour, of government at any level, has ever said, “We could have been wrong”? It is beyond my understanding that the reverse decision has been criticised by some — because, to me, it is common sense. You can’t treat some members of a successful community differently from others; no crime was involved, and Australia Day is still on January 26.

For the sake of our nation, this emotive matter must be sorted out by the Federal Government, and although the Prime Minister has said that a decision will be made in his second term, I can’t see that happening — the decision or the second term.

Thanks, Broph

I told Broph that I would be calling him Anthony because it’s a nice name, and no-one was using it. However, he is known as Broph, so I’ve used both. I want to thank him for his time; I think it was a record-breaking chat. And for his patience in helping me get everything straight. It is apparent to me that he is not only looking after the wellbeing of the students at Notre but, indeed, doing his part in caring for the wellbeing of the citizens of Greater Shepparton.

To tell the truth, I felt as if I was talking with an old friend — although, as I have said — we had only met once (if you don’t count saying ‘hello’ at various functions!) I wish him and his family well.

The ongoing Republican issue

This week, I received another email from South Australia, which included a link to ‘The Crown and the Constitution’. You will recall that I had received the same from Louis, which, by the way, I have forwarded to those interested. This email also included a link to the Athanasion Creed, which covers the doctrines of the Trinity and the Incarnation. Here is what Arnie had to say — for those interested.

Hello.

I recently read a collage of comments in regard to our Limited Monarchical System of Representative Democracy.

I submit the above link for your consideration. (This was to ‘The Crown, etc’.)

I also submit this link below as it depicts the nature of reality as understood by our forebears.

https://www.catholic.com/encyclopedia/athanasian-creed

You can find the exact same result under various denominational flavours, but still, word perfect to the link above.

Nature and nurture draw us all back to the source of the greatest Love, above all else.

Enjoy.

Arnie

Bye, for now, everyone. And yes! At some point, I need to explain, yet again, why I sign off with: May it be easy, my friends.

Marnie

Email: towntalk@sheppnews.com.au

Letter: Town Talk. The News. P.O. Box 204. Shepparton 3631.

Phone: Send a text to 0418 962 507. (Note: text only. I will call you back if you wish.)