Page 3381 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 19 October 2022
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simple and straightforward job, but we are always happy when we hear back from people saying that they are booked in for a check-up or that they have received screening test results back revealing no concerns. Occasionally, we receive word of concerning results or a cancer diagnosis, and although this is not good news we are glad that the lumps were detected relatively early as a result of getting screened.
Last Sunday I had the pleasure of attending a Pink Ribbon lunch fundraiser hosted by Saara Holidays travel agency, where we heard from guest speakers Dr Roopa and Avani, who shared their knowledge and experiences of the impact of breast cancer. $3,000 was generously raised for the for the National Breast Cancer Foundation on this special occasion. I would like to give my thanks to Archana Venkat from Saara Holidays for hosting this event, as well as Sushant from 7 by the Lake restaurant for the delicious food and hospitable venue, and all the other people who helped organise and support this wonderful and memorable event.
Lastly, I would like to express my appreciation to all other organisations, groups, families and individuals who dedicate themselves to providing support and raising awareness and much-needed funds for ongoing research into breast cancer. Thank you for all that you do.
Ms Helen Oakey—tribute
MS VASSAROTTI (Kurrajong) (6.22): I start this adjournment speech with a story. Some time early in the 2000s I was standing on a street in Civic when another woman approached me. She admired the handbag that I had and asked me where I had got it. I happily swapped notes about my beautiful, Australian made Spender and Rutherford briefcase and went on my way.
About 12 months later, when I was working at the YWCA, I organised to meet with members of the ACT Greens who were keen to discuss the radical idea of minimum energy standards for rental properties. In walked Helen Oakey with the same bag and exclaimed to me, “You are the woman with the bag,” and displayed her version of it. A friendship was born. I would like to acknowledge that Helen is here in the gallery today.
I have known Helen for a couple of decades, but today I want to particularly focus on the work that she has done in recent years in her role as Executive Director of the Conservation Council, ACT Region. It is through this role that she has shown leadership, vision and strength in environmental advocacy and standing up for our environment, our threatened species and our biodiversity.
Helen thinks big and is thoughtful about how she engages with communities, and she meets them where they are at. Two great examples of the work she has led at the council that demonstrate this creativity include the Make the Switch campaign, which supports people to transition to all-electric homes, and the Make the Move campaign, focused on supporting people to use active transport. With both these projects, Helen was smart, using digital platforms that were easily accessible and practical, providing easily digestible and fun information, and encouraging people to give things a go and involve others in the journey towards a less carbon-intensive life.
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