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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 9 Hansard (27 August) . . Page.. 3323 ..

MRS CROSS (continuing):

What touched me most about the funeral today was that the church was overflowing-there were people standing outside the Greek Orthodox Church in Kingston-and that people from all sides of politics, all walks of life and every socio-economic background were represented there. There must have been close to 800 people. The love, warmth, sadness and joy we felt in the wonderful memories of Vince marked today's funeral in a very special way. We are going to miss him very much. He was an inspiration to someone like me, an Australian of Greek origin who always looked up to Vince for his integrity and dedication.

I pay tribute to him once again and wish his family well.

Ms Narelle Hargreaves

MRS BURKE (6.47): I would like to add my congratulatory note to the minister's on Narelle Hargreaves. I met Narelle a few years ago in my first involvement with school-to-industry stuff and across the education sector, and I have to say she was the most dynamic and enthusiastic person I met. It was so rewarding and warming to see somebody of an equal level of energy, and it really helped me along in that early time. She was definitely a dedicated leader. Her face and the way that she was with people were an enormous encouragement to all who worked with her.

She is a very warm person and strong, determined and forthright in the way she led her people. That is a really good quality in leadership, which I aspire to. I was blessed to have met somebody who was so encouraging to me in my endeavours. I wish her and her family every success and happiness in her well deserved retirement.

Ms Narelle Hargreaves

Bill of rights

MR STEFANIAK (6.48): I heard a couple of weeks ago that Narelle Hargreaves would be retiring. I am only sorry no-one told me exactly when the farewell drinks were on, but I will catch up with her. As the minister said, she has done wonders for the ACT education system. When I became minister, she was Director, Schools Operations Northside. There was a move to move her somewhere else, but she did not want to be moved somewhere else. I was certainly happy to go in and bat for her there because she was terribly effective in the job that she did.

Over the nearly seven years I was minister, I never failed to marvel at the magnificent job that Narelle Hargreaves did for our education system. She had a certain style about her; she was quite unflappable. As an executive director, she would go out there and handle the most incredible problems at a school level. If there were parents who were really upset about something happening in the school, Narelle would sit them down and patiently go through it.

She would show great understanding and compassion-and strength when she needed to; she knew what she wanted-and was always able to listen. It was amazing how many difficult situations Narelle Hargreaves was able to resolve simply through her experience, dedication, force of character and the warmth that she displayed to everyone.

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