By Damir Govorcin
“As Catholics, we must be brave enough to stand up for what we believe is right and wrong,” says Paul Osborne.
“People will always try to knock you down, but in the darkest of periods your faith will strengthen and galvanise you.”
Paul is speaking from personal experience.
He has had his share of being knocked down - as a junior and senior rugby league player, as a cop and as a politician.
Most recently it has been as a politician.
The former detective capped off his 10-year career in the NRL with a premiership win with the Canberra Raiders in 1994.
Then Paul, father of seven, decided to venture into the cut-throat world of politics.
He stood for election to the ACT Legislative Assembly in 1995, running as an independent candidate for the multi-member electorate of Brindabella.
He had a diverse political platform embracing worker’s compensation, freedom of information, petrol pricing, internet stalking, law and order and education.
He won election in 1995, and was re-elected with an increased majority in 1998.
But his outspokenness on issues such as euthanasia and abortion - being “brave enough to stand up for what we believe is right and wrong” - was to cost him his seat.
During one rally more than 3000 pro-choice protesters demonstrated against his attempt to outlaw abortion in the ACT.
They carried placards with messages such as ‘Osborne - ex-footballer, ex-cop - soon to be ex-politician’ and ‘Osborne’s bill - an act of immaculate deception’.
Undeterred by the attacks he suffered, the 36-year-old is considering running again at the next election.
This time round, he is expected to affiliate himself with a political party.
“People were telling me that politics would have a negative impact on my faith, but in fact my faith became strengthened and galvanised by the experience,” he says.
“I argued passionately about euthanasia and abortion, which for me are black and white issues.
“I was attacked in different quarters, but I’m proud I stood up for what I believed was right.”
Paul grew up in Petersham and was educated at the Christian Brothers High School, Lewisham.
He has fond memories of the school and credits the teachers for instilling Christian values in him and for helping him live out his faith.
“I wouldn’t be the person I am if I didn’t go to a Catholic school,” he said. “The teachers gave me the ability to discern what is right and wrong.
“I learnt about my faith, the value of hard work and to stand up for what you believe in.
“My parents struggled to put me through Catholic schooling, but I’m sure glad they did.”
At school, Paul shone as a footballer.
He was named player of the series as he guided Christian Brothers, Lewisham, to the final of the prestigious Commonwealth Bank Cup schoolboy competition in 1984.
His school was beaten 16-10 by St Gregory’s College, Campbelltown, with Paul turning in what he regards as his worst performance of the competition.
“I had a shocker in the final, but at the time being a part of the second best rugby league school team in Australia was something I was proud of,” he said.
“We were a tight unit as we had been friends and grown up together at the school.”
Paul and his wife, Sally, who have been married for 12 years, have seven children - Sabella, 11, Jacob, nine, Joshua, seven, George, six, Thomas, four, Noah, two, and Ezra 11 months.
Paul says his prime objective is to be “the priest at home for my wife and kids”.
“How do we pay the bills - we pray a lot,” he joked.
“We’re tired and poor, but there’s a lot of love in the house.
“My wife loves kids, she would have 50 if she could.”
The key to their relationship, he says, has been forgiveness.
“We went through some difficult times because of my behaviour during my football career, but she had faith in me that I could turn things around,” he said.
“Football was my God; everything else was out of kilter.
“Sally made me see the bigger picture and helped me get my priorities right.”
Paul doesn’t miss his seven years in the NSW Police Force, which he left when he had had enough of the stress and pressures that go with the job.
“They were interesting times, but I don’t miss it,” he said.
“It has been 12 years since I have been a policeman so now it’s a bit like a dream.
“It takes a special person to put their hand up to do that job because you have to deal with people in crisis.
“The job hardens you, but still I made some good friends.”
The rugby league memories are sweeter, particularly the 1994 grand final win when he threw two magical passes to set up tries in the opening half and so pave the way for the Raiders’ crushing 36-12 victory.
It was his NRL swan song, but he still turns out for second division side Tuggeranong in the local ACT competition.
“I hadn’t planned for the grand final to be my last NRL game, but after I took time out to think about it I wasn’t going to beat that moment,” he said. “Rugby League was great to me. I have some wonderful memories and made many great friends.”
Apart from juggling his family commitments, Paul works part-time with his former club, Canberra, in community development, and at weekends as an ABC Radio commentator at Raiders matches.
During the summer he also does some work with the Rural Fire Service.
