Page 1014 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 15 March 2005
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The “celebrate in the park” event on Saturday 12 March marked the beginning of the 10 days of celebrations. This inaugural event was a wonderful success and offered Canberrans a huge variety of entertainment, acts and activities. More than 35,000 people attended the event throughout the day, which began with the announcement of the Canberra citizen of the year award—or should I say Canberra citizens of the year. The entire staff of Clare Holland House were recognised for the countless hours of service they provide to the Canberra community. The palliative care centre, positioned on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin at East Basin, has served our community since December 2001.
The Clare Holland House palliative care team delivers comprehensive, coordinated, compassionate and excellent care to people and families who live with advancing illness. The team, which consists of doctors, nurses, social and palliative care workers, clerical and kitchen staff, physiotherapists and occupational therapists, have specialised knowledge and skills. Their approach encompasses the whole person—not only the management of pain and other complex systems but it also acknowledges and addresses the psychological, spiritual and social aspects of individuals. The environment is made as home-like as possible, where families can remain close and are encouraged to participate in care and decision-making.
Services provided include the in-patient palliative care unit, where people are admitted for a number of reasons; the home-based palliative care unit, which provides nursing care and support to people with an advancing illness whose families are caring for them at home; and the hospital consultancy service, which includes palliative care specialist advice to patients in hospitals, hostels and aged-care facilities. Clare Holland House is a deserving recipient and I would like to congratulate manager, Pauline Green, Medical Director, Dr Margherita Nicoletti, and all of the staff at the centre.
Thanks must also go to last year’s citizen of the year, Mr Geoff McPherson, who was recognised for his major contribution to the Canberra community in refugee support. Mr McPherson has served our city impeccably as Canberra citizen of the year in 2004 and I am sure the staff of Clare Holland House will do Canberrans just as proud in 2005. I was very interested to hear the comments Mr McPherson made on Saturday just before Clare Holland House was announced. He talked about how things had not necessarily improved, but how very pleased he was to have received the award in 2004.
Five community protection medals were also awarded on Saturday to five people from across the ACT emergency services, including ACT Policing. The ACT community protection medal was established in 2002 to reward people who have given sustained, distinguished or outstanding service to the ACT community through their involvement in ACT emergency services. ACT Ambulance paramedic Mr Trevor Stohr; State Emergency Service volunteer, John Hill; president of the ACT Rural Fire Services, Molonglo Brigade, David Tunbridge; Australian Federal Police negotiator, Therese Barnicoat, and the ACT Fire Brigade’s Joseph Murphy all deserve our thanks and congratulations. These five recipients have worked tirelessly in our community and have proven their commitment to Canberra.
I was pleased to be able to attend the events on Saturday morning and to help present the inaugural Chief Minister’s Canberra gold award to those Canberrans who have lived in
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