Page 405 - Week 01 - Thursday, 16 February 2012
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
John played an important role in the protection of koalas in southern New South Wales, and was involved in a series of forest conservation and anti-logging campaigns both in Australia and overseas. Through his work with the New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service, he succeeded in substantially expanding New South Wales’s national park estate.
John’s work also extended to the field of environmental education. As a senior research fellow at Wollongong university, he designed and managed multidisciplinary environmental research programs and, during a stint in Papua New Guinea, he led the charge in strengthening environmental science programs at the University of Papua New Guinea.
John not only invested his passion in Australian conservation protection but also worked on a number of major international aid projects, including forest management and water quality improvement in Vietnam, sustainable community development in Papua New Guinea and tropical forest conservation in South-East Asia. His career even featured a year working as policy coordinator for the Australian Greens.
All who worked with John commented on his inspiring attitude, generosity, kindness, passion and wit. Our natural assets are all the safer thanks to John’s work.
On behalf of the ACT Greens, I wish to express my condolences to John’s wife, Sylvia, his family and friends. As attested to by the crowd at his funeral service, John’s loss will be felt by many.
Chinese new year dragon boat regatta
MR DOSZPOT (Brindabella) (6.23): As shadow minister for sport and recreation, it gives me great pleasure to say a few words tonight about the recent achievements of the support and protocol unit and members of staff of the Assembly Secretariat who participated in the Chinese new year dragon boat regatta on Lake Burley Griffin last Saturday, 11 February 2012. The dragon boat crew of sport and pro-tickle were Chris Wilson, Laurel Coyles, Mary Krix, Lars Plenge and Gabriel Everitt from the support and protocol unit, along with three former staff members, Samara Henriksen, Kahlea McGeechan and Angela Lee, and in the engine room were Rick Hart, the master of facilities, and attendants extraordinaire, Rod Campbell, Andrew Tyrie, Paul Oliver and Sam Rauraa.
The question about the attendants, of course, remains: where were Denis Axelby and Dick Stalker? Denis has impeccable cricketing skills that he could have contributed, while Dick has a strong independent streak that could have been useful. I understand there were also a few ring-ins to fill the boat of 20 paddlers and maybe we can get their names and ensure that they too will be immortalised in Hansard.
The team competed under the name sport and pro-tickle, a play on support and protocol, with 16 other boats competing for the title. With two early morning practice sessions leading up to race day, the team progressed from being a fun group of, in their words, “uncoordinated misfits” to a “streamlined and synchronised professional
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video