Page 911 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 2 April 2008
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Mr Hargreaves: Great company.
MR PRATT: Yes, there was indeed great company. I had the great fortune to share a table with Mr Hargreaves, Mrs Hargreaves and a couple of other people. We had a charming old night.
The history of St Mary in the Valley is quite a colourful one. The congregation initially, while they were awaiting the construction of a church, would meet in various halls and community centres around the valley. Finally they had an old timber church transferred from the mountains and established on a site. The church was going along nicely. There was a terrible incident, I think some 15 years ago—Mr Hargreaves might want to correct me on that—when a willy-willy belting through the valley knocked that church down. Before anybody starts to worry about the finger of God, that willy-willy caused a broad swathe of destruction. The willy-willy did not necessarily pick on the church itself. It was indeed part of the collateral damage of a broader hit by that particular willy-willy in the valley at the time.
The congregation is now about 150 members. It is a very strong and vibrant congregation. We all had a lovely night. Even Mr Hargreaves and I found peace to discuss broader issues. I had a charming conversation with Mrs Hargreaves in the process about the workings of the Assembly.
It is the 25th anniversary of St Mary in the Valley. It is a wonderful organisation with a very strong and viable congregation. I am sure they will have another wonderful 25 years to come.
Cricket competition
MR HARGREAVES (Brindabella—Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, Minister for Housing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (6.16): Mr Speaker, I would like to raise a matter of public importance in the context of the adjournment debate.
MR SPEAKER: You cannot.
MR HARGREAVES: I know I cannot, so I will not. On the other hand, I will use the adjournment debate to inform the Assembly more formally of the results of the cricket competition on the weekend.
Mrs Burke: I know all about it.
MR HARGREAVES: Mrs Burke says that she has heard all about it. But let me tell you that if she has heard all about it from one of the leaders of the opposition, she might like to sit back and hear it from the beginning. The things that you do for your team!
I have to pay due respect to Mr Ryan Hamilton from Minister Barr’s office. He took a decent tumble. In fact, he severely sprained one of his ankles and got absolutely no sympathy from the media. He was carried off to jeers and laughter by the media, led
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