Page 1887 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 8 June 2022
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on YouTube. I highly encourage people to check out those 20 minutes, because it is truly fascinating and I think shows what a creative force but also a sharing force Fay was.
On Saturday afternoon, while we launched the annual members’ exhibition, we were also joined by Fay’s family—her husband, Graham, as well as her daughters, Fiona, Sally and Melissa. It was just beautiful and, as I mentioned, a real honour for me to help name the Fay Skyring gallery but also to hear directly from Graham about Fay’s love for everything to do with spinning and weaving. That naturally led into the opening of the exhibition, which I have to encourage everyone to get along to. I acknowledge that Minister Davidson made some time to be there.
The talent on display was really quite something. It left quite an impression on me, through the expression of the different art forms that were there. There were works on display from members who were at their highest ability, as well as people who were just starting out. I have to say that the ones from people just starting out almost blew my mind when I saw the skill and the deftness on display. I thoroughly encourage them. I also think that it really underlines what a successful organisation Canberra Spinners and Weavers is. It has grown, and it continues to grow and welcome new members who develop a love for such a skilled craft.
Indeed, Madam Speaker, I was very fortunate to enjoy their shop afterwards. I know there has been a bit of attention to the shawl that I have been wearing this week, and it was purchased there. I encourage members to check out the exhibition. The shop is open regularly and the exhibition continues this week.
Dr Karen Macpherson—tribute
MR HANSON (Murrumbidgee) (5.52): I rise tonight to say a few words about Dr Karen Macpherson. Dr Macpherson has been supporting me in developing education policy for a while now but will be leaving at the end of the financial year, when her contract expires.
When I first got the portfolio, I did what I think many of us do: read widely, researched my portfolio of education. I came across an article written in CityNews by a Dr Karen Macpherson and I thought, “This is very interesting. This is well written. This person obviously has a deep understanding of education broadly but also the ACT education system.” I reached out to Karen. She came in for a meeting. We had a great chat and it was clear that this was someone that I really could benefit from, if she was able to support me in working on policy. I was delighted that Karen did so. She joined the Hanson team.
She is not a politically affiliated staffer at all. She is an education expert and enthusiast and is deeply committed to seeing an improvement in education in the ACT. Karen worked with me on the paper that I released last year. I tabled that in the Assembly and it was the subject of a speech that I gave in here—“Bringing out the best in every child”, which is an education strategy for the ACT. I am very proud of that document.
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