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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 11 Hansard (24 September) . . Page.. 3325 ..
MR HIRD (continuing):
James Hird, as well as all Canberrans, should be proud. He is the first ACT player to win the prestigious Brownlow Medal. James started his football career with the Ainslie juniors and progressed to the seniors. He played a strong part in their many premiership victories. James follows the family tradition started by his grandfather, a former Essendon Bombers player and president of Essendon. James's father Allan, from our Education Department, also played with the Essendon Bombers. James has made the Hird family and the Canberra community very proud. I am sure everyone would join with me in wishing James every success in his career. I would like to close by saying that Michael Voss, the joint winner of the Brownlow Medal, comes from Brisbane. I am sure everyone in this chamber would also join with me and wish him well too.
MR STEFANIAK (Minister for Education and Training and Minister for Sport and Recreation) (4.20): Mr Hird, you have stolen what I was going to say. Initially, I join with Ms Follett in congratulating the Northside Community Service on 20 excellent years. I have had the pleasure of going to all our community services in recent times and seeing what they do. They are doing a lot of excellent things in the northside of our community, especially in the new areas of Gungahlin. The youth project Ms Follett mentioned is worthy of special mention as that seems to be getting a lot of kids in Gungahlin actively involved in some very good programs in recent times. I particularly single out their efforts there.
I would also like to congratulate James Hird, the Canberra boy who did well in being joint winner of the Brownlow Medal. His side narrowly missed out on getting into the grand final on the weekend. As Harold said, Mr Speaker, he is the son of Allan Hird who also played with Essendon. Allan and James's mother both work with our Department of Education. I think we have a couple of very proud parents there. Obviously, everyone in the sporting community in Canberra would congratulate James on his great effort.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
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