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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 10 Hansard (30 August) . . Page.. 3897 ..

MR SMYTH (continuing):

There have been high times and low times-Tuggeranong homestead, ACTION reform, planning debates, call-ins, water legislation, workers compensation and rural policy. The litany goes on. It was all good fun, and it was very enjoyable.

I would like to say thank you to Kate Carnell who did not finish the term with us. I think that is a shame. I think history will treat her much better than this Assembly has. I would like to thank her for the inspiration that she was to me and for the great things that she has done for Canberra.

Before I finish I seek a small indulgence, which is why I have spoken last. I have a little poem I would like to read that will take me a little bit over my time, but not much, so I ask people to be patient. What Gary did not say was that when he came into the party room this morning he found Michael sitting in his chair. He looked at him and Michael didn't move. Michael stayed there and ran the last party meeting this morning, which I think was quite amusing.

I first met Michael Moore in 1992 on election day at six o'clock at the then South Curtin School booth. I remember standing there with all the other people who had been handing out how-to-vote cards and shaking Michael's hand. He went inside to do some scrutineering and all us Liberals looked at each other and said, "We will never see him again." We were wrong. So I seek a small indulgence and, if I may do so without interruption, I will read a small poem about Michael Moore. It is called "The member":

Once upon a midnight sitting, while they sat there slowly pitting,

Wits upon some quaint and curious topic of forgotten law-

While they nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,

As of someone gently rapping, rapping on their Chamber door.

"'Tis some Visitor", they muttered, "tapping at our Chamber door-

Only this and nothing more."

Ah, distinctly they remember how they each became a Member;

When the vote of each elector put them here upon this floor.

Eagerly they wished the morrow;-vainly they had sought to borrow

From each other speeches hollow-each one given oft before-

For the rare and radiant promise that each would be held in awe-

Had become a daily chore.

And the silken, sad, uncertain rustling of each notice paper

Bored them-filled them with reluctant musings sadly felt before;

So that now, to still the beating of their hearts, they sat repeating

"'Tis some Visitor entreating entrance to our Chamber door-

Some late Visitor entreating entrance to our Chamber door;-

This it is, and nothing more."

Suddenly they heard a mutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,

In there stepped a stately Member of the saintly days of yore;

Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;

But, with manner independent, came upon their Chamber floor-

Stood with flash of bearded visage right upon their Chamber floor-

Stood, then sat, and nothing more.

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