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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 10 Hansard (30 August) . . Page.. 3891 ..

MR HARGREAVES (continuing):

mouths into something which is meaningful, I'll be blessed if I know. There are great people in the Library and the Education Office. I think the job that the Education Office does in taking our message out to the community is particularly important. I have expressed my thanks to the secretaries of the justice and scrutiny committee.

I want to express my appreciation to the Clerk and Deputy Clerk for their wisdom and experience. I would have fallen over very frequently, and probably very publicly, if it had not been for those people, and I appreciate it very much.

Finally, I want to express my appreciation to my own office staff, Maria Vincent, Lindy Frampton and occasionally Beth Morland. Those staff are the backbone of any office. They are the people who deal with constituents' problems. We don't get the person screaming at the other end of the phone, they do. They are the people who settle people down when they have hassles, and I reckon they need acknowledgment. If any of us look good out there in the electorate, it is because of the work that they put in, and we need to acknowledge that.

I want to acknowledge particularly the great debt that I owe Narelle Luchetti who has been on this roller-coaster ride with us for 31/2 years. It has been a very steep learning curve. In my view I have been the most fortunate member here in having Narelle on my staff. People who know her know that she is a credit to this Assembly. She is a credit to young women of her own generation and I think she is an asset to our team.

Mr Speaker, lastly, I want to acknowledge my wife, Jenny, my daughters and my family. I express special thanks to them. We members often forget that when we seek the limelight we often expose those who do not deserve to be exposed. We inadvertently put them into positions where they are asked to defend us. We need occasionally to acknowledge the contribution that they make, not only to us but also to our constituents as well, because it is their strength that enables us to do it. It has been a singular honour to be one of the members for Brindabella, Mr Speaker, and I hope like hell I get back here.

Valedictory

MR RUGENDYKE (11.33): What a thrill and a privilege it has been for me to be able to serve in this term. It has been a really interesting turnaround for an old Senior Constable. I have many people to thank. First, my staff, Liz and Bevan. I openly admit that Bevan is the brains of the business. I could not survive without him. I thank my colleagues and their staff, and the friends I have made in this place. It has been an amazing roller-coaster ride, as I think someone else said.

I thank the various bureaucrats and public servants I have met over the last three years and for whom I have developed an immense respect. I now look forward to repeats of Yes, Minister. I can almost name them-the people I see at estimates hearings and around the building and within the building. Yes, Minister has a new interest for me. Of course, we all thank our families. I do not think I have enough time to name all mine, but I love them all and I thank them for their support.

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