Page 22 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 27 November 2012
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I would like to thank the Assembly for the opportunity to speak today, and to thank the people of Ginninderra in Belconnen and west Gungahlin who have granted me the honour of representing them in the ACT Legislative Assembly. It is a challenge that I am proud to accept.
Before I begin, I would also like to thank the officers and staff of the Legislative Assembly for assisting in my transition in the Assembly. Your help, patience and good humour have been greatly appreciated, and I look forward to working with you over the next four years. Thank you, also, to Sue and Anna, who have helped me get settled in.
I want to acknowledge and thank all of my union colleagues, my fellow Labor Party members and my friends, all of whom have given me strength and confidence. I also thank them for sharing this occasion with me. I thank my children, Archer and Sienna, whom I hope with the family friendly workplace that the Legislative Assembly has become will only be affected in positive ways by their mother’s choice to enter politics. I promise you both we will have that trip away really soon.
There are some individuals who have made an impact on my life that I would like to mention. To Lyndal Ryan, Branch Secretary of United Voice, for all of your leadership, your vision and mateship over the last 17 years: thank you, my sister in arms. I would like to thank all of the branches of United Voice across the country and particularly the ACT branch of United Voice, its executive council, members and officials for sharing your stories with me and allowing me to be part of your lives.
To my campaign team, Matt, Osmond, Libby, Ben, Courtney, Jared and, of course, Michael, thank you all for the personal sacrifices each of you made in participating in my campaign.
To my wonderful team of dedicated volunteer community organisers, both from the ACT and those who travelled interstate to join our campaign—together we visited thousands of homes, made hundreds of phone calls and held meet and greets all over the electorate—we made history and we really did put our community first. Thank you.
Thank you to my friends for allowing me to continue to be part of your and your families’ lives. I am lucky to have such wonderful people who play such an important part in mine and my family’s. Thank you Robina, Graham and Doug for being here today; it means a lot that you are here.
To my family for putting up with my occasional campaign meltdown moments, for being my mates and your continued honesty about whether I am being an embarrassing fool or cool, thank you, and I will try not to be too much of a dag.
And finally, thanks to my basketball team for continuing to allow me to take to the court each week.
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