Page 333 - Week 01 - Thursday, 29 November 2012
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bozic; kurisumasu omedeto; milad majid; subho baradin; sheng dan kuai le; nadelek lowen; vrolijk Kerstfeest; kala christougenna; Krismas ki subhkamna; selamat Natal; srecen Bozic; god jul; wesolych swiat bozego Narodzenia; S rozhdestrom Khristovym; buon Natale; feliz Navidad; frohliche Weihnachten; joyeux Noel; and, finally, happy Christmas to all in our beloved city.
Electorate of Ginninderra
Valedictory
DR BOURKE (Ginninderra) (4.57): Representing the people of Ginninderra is a privilege and personally satisfying. My goal for my political life is to make a contribution to improving the lives of the residents of my electorate. Of course, my constituents are the eyes and ears of our community. I am kept well informed of personal and community issues. I am approached with anything from the mundane to the serious, as a first port of call to a final port of call.
For example, a couple have been given the run-around regarding the installation of a solid wood heating system. This was recommended to raise the core temperature of their sick child, and I was very happy to be one of those to support their plight. The outcome was successful.
Visiting sites for a visual perspective of a community issue is an important part of my job—like, for example, seeing for myself the parking issues at Curves Gungahlin, on which I submitted a petition. As well, there are traffic and parking management issues at Thynne Street in Bruce.
My weekend community consultations are another way in which I am approachable regarding the concerns of Ginninderra residents. Sometimes people just want to say thank you for a past addressed issue, or get a copy of our latest community news that my office produces, and at other times people want to vent frustration. Either way, as their member, I am proud to represent them.
Madam Speaker, the final adjournment debate of the year is an opportunity for me to thank the many people who have assisted me over the year. I would like to acknowledge the help given to me by your office. The Clerk, Tom Duncan, his deputy, Max Kiermaier, and their staff ensure that the Assembly operates smoothly for 17 demanding members. The staff of the Committee Office do so much research and report writing on behalf of committee members. The Assembly’s library staff, the Assembly IT staff, the attendants and Rick do a tireless job throughout the building. Hansard and support staff record almost every word we utter. Chamber support, the Strategy and Parliamentary Education Office—and Corporate Services ensure that members and staff are paid, which is really rather important, as well as the necessary services provided with executive support.
I thank my Labor colleagues for their support, friendship and good humour. I also thank my wife for her encouragement, her help and her forbearance. Thank you to my staff of volunteers for their hard work and their loyalty. Finally, I thank the talented and dedicated staff in the directorates I worked with, in Education and Training, Corrections, Industrial Relations and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs—and of course the fantastic team who were in my ministerial office.
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