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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 10 Hansard (24 November) . . Page.. 2779 ..

MR STEFANIAK (continuing):

Miss Curley is truly a most remarkable Canberran and a most remarkable Australian. Other members have already mentioned the great value and the great generosity of Miss Curley in donating Mugga Mugga to future generations as a heritage site in terms of the cottage there, and also her constant pressure on the local government to do something in relation to the Education and Environment Centre, which I am pleased that this Government actioned in the last Assembly. I think the environment centre and the cottage will be a magnificent resource for future generations. As the Education Minister I would like to thank Miss Curley very much for her generosity and all she has done, over a magnificent life spanning 100 years, for the people of this region.

MR SMYTH (Minister for Urban Services) (12.27): Mr Speaker, I will quickly wrap up by saying that as Minister responsible for the environment and for heritage it is tremendous to have the example of a lady like Sylvia Curley and her magnificent donation of Mugga Mugga. Recently Mr Hird brought to my attention that in the old House of Assembly Miss Curley had raised the issue that the bridge across the Molonglo at Dairy Flat was inappropriately named in that that area was initially known as Mill Flat. She had always pushed for it to be renamed appropriately.

I think the acknowledgment that we give her in renaming a gateway to Canberra the Sylvia Curley Bridge is significant. Bridges provide links. Sylvia Curley provides an amazing link to the past because of her knowledge of life here with her family at Duntroon and then on the Mugga Mugga out-station. Her life throughout Canberra's early history, firstly as a matron and then as a businesswoman in this city, is a tremendous example to us all. In that concept of a bridge linking both sides of a river, Sylvia Curley links the early history of Canberra with the present. That becomes a foundation that allows us as a city to have a great future because she has put before us reminders of the past and issued challenges for the future. I join all here to acknowledge her as a great Canberran, a great Australian, and to wish her well on her 100th birthday.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

MR SMYTH (Minister for Urban Services) (12.29): Mr Speaker, I seek leave to present the Milk Authority (Amendment) Bill (No. 2) 1998.

Leave granted.

MR SMYTH: Mr Speaker, I present the Milk Authority (Amendment) Bill (No. 2) 1998, together with its explanatory memorandum.

Title read by Clerk.

MR SMYTH: I move:

That this Bill be agreed to in principle.

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