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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 4 Hansard (20 April) . . Page.. 947 ..

MR SMYTH (continuing):

The gift is manifest today in the form of a fully functioning restored Mugga Mugga memorial environment education centre and the restored Mugga Mugga homestead museum.

Mr Speaker, although Miss Curley's career achievements are well documented in a life spanning more than 100 years, the stories and anecdotes that have not been written about her life abound. These reminiscences not only add colour to an already colourful life but will also ensure that her strength of purpose, her deeds and her vibrant personality live on as a reminder of what one person can achieve. In Miss Curley's book, A long journey, we find great insights into her thinking and her no-nonsense way of doing things. In the foreword to the book Ken Eldridge notes:

Sylvia Curley's story is a great contribution to Canberra's history, but she tells an even more lively story of herself and her attitude to life, in places a ripping yarn.

We all know that Miss Curley had a winning way with public administrators and members of the Assembly. We also know of her satisfaction at seeing her dream, and her family's, come true in the restoration of Mugga Mugga. Staff of the Historic Places Unit of the Cultural Facilities Corporation who observed her absolute joy when she saw the completed project tell how she said that she felt that time had rolled back and that she could imagine her mother walking through the door into the front room. I think that is a tribute to all who worked with her to achieve that restoration.

We also know that, while Miss Curley had an eye on the big picture, it never interfered with her attention to detail and doing things the right way without shortcuts. It is a telling characteristic that she always wanted to be known as "Miss Curley". This was her decision and she stuck to it, and she made sure that all of us stuck to it. Many have spoken of her hospitality. She is renowned for the wonderful spreads she would put on. Like others, I was summoned last year to visit Miss Curley. She insisted on doing things herself and doing them the way that she had been brought up to do them. She served afternoon tea. The white tablecloth had matching white napkins. The floral-patterned crockery had been taken out and the teapot had a tea-cosy. There was always a savoury or a sweet sandwich, depending on what you wanted. My last memory of her is that she always had a final point to make. After an hour-and-a-half with her, she wedged herself in her walking frame in the small alcove that was the entrance to her home and would not let me leave until she had made her final point. Others here have indicated that they also sometimes felt perhaps a little trapped.

Miss Curley's journey displayed an abiding affection for, and a commitment to, Canberra. Her life was also a triumph of achievement and concern for others. As she said in her own book:

People frequently state that Canberra is a city without a soul. I do not agree. Canberra has a soul but without our heritage we have nothing to build a city on. All the great cities of the world have built their cities on heritage.

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