Page 312 - Week 01 - Thursday, 9 December 2004
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
community, which had the confidence in me to place me in this place and position. It is one that I honour and respect very much. Thank you to everyone. Have a great break.
Motorcyclists—charity ride
Valedictory
MR GENTLEMAN (Brindabella) (6.10): Mr Speaker, I would like to speak briefly about an event to occur this coming Saturday, 11 December. The Motorcycle Riders Association of the ACT, along with several other motorcycle clubs and riders in general, have every year put together a group of riders to raise awareness of the plight of others less fortunate at Christmas. The aim of this ride is to help raise toys, money, food and clothing for those less fortunate.
The ride coincides with the start of the Salvation Army and the Smith Family’s Christmas appeal. The MRAACT has been supporting this drive for many years, and the event is growing quite substantially. In 2002 there were approximately 400 riders, and last year those numbers grew to over 500. This year the organisers are hoping for at least 600 riders, although the number of those riding in the event does not include the many other volunteers. The ride attracts people from all walks of life, from public servants, professional motorcyclists, to politicians like Senator Kate Lundy and me. The other main objective of the run is to raise awareness of motorcycles.
Starting at Old Parliament House at 10am Saturday and after travelling along many main roads in Canberra south, the ride will finish at Garema Place in the city. The riders all must and do obey the road rules, and the riders are escorted by police motorcycles. They will only be travelling at a top speed of 40 kilometres an hour. I would encourage all members of the Assembly, and beyond, to get involved with this charity by donating to this very worthwhile cause or, if you are so inclined, by joining me and Senator Lundy on the toy run ride.
As this event is to help mark the festive season, I would also like to take this opportunity to wish a merry Christmas to all my constituents in Brindabella and to all my colleagues in the Assembly. I would also like to take the time to say a very special merry Christmas to those that keep this Assembly running from behind the scenes: the attendants, the Clerk’s office, secretary, committee staff and lastly, but by no means least, the IT staff. All the staff in the Assembly help keep this well-oiled machine that is our government working towards the future. Thank you and merry Christmas to you, Mr Speaker.
Valedictory
DR FOSKEY (Molonglo) (6.12): After a week here, it is a good opportunity for me to reflect on my time here and most especially to thank the people who have helped me to settle in. Everyone has spoken about the people who work in this place and keep it running: the secretary, the people working in committees, the attendants, people like Max and Janice—absolutely everyone. It has just been wonderful to work with everyone. I felt genuine friendliness, and I have felt helpfulness. I want to say that I do feel very much at home here, and it is primarily due to those people’s work.
I also have to thank the people who are working with me. I was very lucky to have Roland and Regan work for me—work with me. They also worked with Kerrie. It made
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .