Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 14 Hansard (11 December) . . Page.. 5299 ..

MRS DUNNE (continuing):

Now Dasher, now Dancer, now Prancer, now Vixen,

You're dragging the chain and the axle needs fixin'.

On Comet on Cupid on Donner and Blitzen

Well I didn't name you, so don't have a fixin'

He sprang in his sleigh and to his team gave a whistle

And they all flew away like an Exocet missile

And I heard him exclaim as he stopped at the lights

"Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night."

Valedictory

MR HARGREAVES (5.44): There have been a couple of hard acts to follow so I am not going to try. First, I express my appreciation to my staff, to Andrew Barr and Maria. Now and again we all need to reflect that when we talk to our constituents we are offering only a reflection of the quality of our staff. In that sense I owe them an immense debt.

To my Labor colleagues who have been so supportive over the past year I say thank you very much. I thank the opposition very much for entertaining me all year. They have given me plenty of opportunity for a laugh, a giggle and some serious thought. I appreciate that. To the cross-bench I say thank you very much for your contribution to this Assembly. It has been high quality. To those people who have acted professionally and with humour, I say thank you very much. To those people who have acted with a little less professionalism and a little bit less humour, I suggest they have a real good think about it over the festive season.

I also express my appreciation to the chamber support staff headed up by Tom after Mark left. I single out just a couple of people because the Leader of the Opposition quite generously did so. I single out the individual attendants because without them this place would be a pretty tetchy sort of place. They have given me the odd wink and a nudge every now and again. That has made the difference and they have made me feel really important. To the guys up in the black box over here, Ray Blundell and all the guys from Hansard, thanks. How you decipher what is said in here and put it into English is beyond me. I wouldn't have your job for a gold pick.

I thank my colleagues. I have had an absolutely dam-busting blast over the past year, and I hope everybody here has, too. Over Christmas I will be thinking about whether or not we did a good job for the people of the ACT. My instant thought is yes, we have on balance, so congratulations to you all. Do have a joyous Christmas with the families. Come back refreshed. We have got a big year ahead of us: 2004 is an election year. May the best team win, and I am sure I will be on it. I will see you all out on the hustings. I hope Santa Claus brings you absolutely everything that you want.

Valedictory

MRS BURKE (5.46): I too wish everybody in this place a really blessed, safe and peaceful Christmas, and I hope that we regroup. We have got a busy year ahead of us.

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .