Page 4176 - Week 12 - Thursday, 1 December 2022
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these areas. I want to thank the Committee Office, particularly the PAC secretaries in the past who were incredibly helpful with our many PAC inquiries and work. I wish to thank you and I am looking forward to working with Sophie, who is our newest PAC secretary. I really, really appreciate the hard work each secretary has given to me and also to my committee members in regard to the work we do in our committee.
I also want to thank my excellent staff and friends, Brett—it just so happens to be his birthday today, so birthday shout-out to Brett Baker—Joseph and Sylvia. This trio are amazing and I simply could not do what I do in the office as well as my electorate without these three amazing individuals. I am very grateful to each of them. They all have their very special talent, skills and unique sense of humour that makes my team incredible. I must say one of my favourite things of the day is our daily staff meeting.
Leaving the best for last, I want to give thanks to my family. My kids have been absolute rock stars and inspiring youngsters this year. Cormack, Utopia, Virtue, Mantay and Lanaya are sweet, sweet souls, each with their own uniqueness, aspirations, talents, skills and kindness. I do not know how I got lucky to be their mother but it is the greatest job in the world to be a mum. Every day I am grateful for the trust and the privilege it is to be their mother. Juggling motherhood and working is not always easy or fun but my kids have risen to the occasion. I am amazed at their resilience, their determination, hard work and thoughtfulness. It does not take a lot for me to have a great day. When I get home after a long day and the kids have done the washing and cooked dinner, I am the happiest woman in the world. Just two simple things and I am satisfied. I am happy. So I want to thank my kids for making me the happiest and luckiest woman in the world. Thank you.
Valedictory
MR RATTENBURY (Kurrajong—Attorney-General, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Gaming and Minister for Water, Energy and Emissions Reduction) (4.40): Mr Deputy Speaker, 2022 has felt like the most normal year we have had for a while. While the pandemic has continued to be a reality for many in our community, many of the simple pleasures and important rituals have returned to our lives; meeting up with friends and family, attending birthday parties and weddings, taking a break, going to the football, watching a band, and end-of-year school functions. It is great to see them all back, even if there is a little bit of extra care around them. I have been struck by the number of conversations I have had this year where people have shared the perspective of how grateful they are to be back doing things that really matter to them and perhaps they had taken for granted. And how much people really are hoping for a smooth run through the festive season this year. Let us hope that it is the case.
As always, the year that was, as a member of this place, has been a heady mixture of real progress and unplanned challenges. It is always great to get to the end of the year and have the chance to stop and reflect and also to think about what is coming along next year. For me, delivering things like a new zero emissions vehicle strategy, our plan to electrify the city, seeing a full-time coroner put in place—these are the sort of things we take to an election, have the opportunity to deliver and then see the impact that they will have in improving the lives of Canberrans. It is a privilege that is really
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