Page 309 - Week 01 - Thursday, 15 December 2016
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My pop passed away in April and my grampy passed away in September. To say the elation of being elected was tempered by the absence of two of the biggest supporters in my life is an understatement. But as I approach the next four years, even though they cannot be here with me, I take with me the example of my grandfathers: work hard, value people and leave the world a better place than you inherited. Thank you.
MR MILLIGAN (Yerrabi) (5.02), by leave: Madam Assistant Speaker, I am deeply honoured and humbled to be elected a representative of the electorate of Yerrabi, as well as a representative of the Canberra Liberals. I am truly thankful for the trust that the community of Yerrabi has placed in me to represent their views, their passions and their concerns.
Coming into parliament gives you an opportunity to reflect on your history and antecedents. As a sixth generation Australian, a descendant of Irish immigrants, including a convict female forebear, I have strong ties to this country and am passionate about the opportunities to have a go and the nature of the Australian landscape. My values reflect my history, my background and our joint experiences as a nation.
I want to take this opportunity to share a little bit about my history, to thank my family, to elaborate on the values that make this country great and what I will bring to my role as a member of this Legislative Assembly.
I was brought up in a small country town, Yarrawonga, bordering Victoria and New South Wales on the Murray River. My upbringing was typical of many growing up in the country: mates, sports, family and getting up to no good. It was up to us to make our own entertainment as we did not have the cool, hi tech dooverlackies that the kids rely on these days. I have to say, though, the greatest thing to come out of living in the country was the solid friendships I made. We were brothers. This instilled in me the importance of mateship and the significant impact it has on our personal values and characteristics that aid us in finding our pathway through life. At least this is what helped me.
I have very fond memories of mum telling us to get out of the house and go do something. I would head out with mates, go fishing, go bike riding, go swimming in the river, play cricket or golf or just chill on the foreshore. But as with any typical friendship, there were many times that we would not see eye to eye, commonly due to our competitiveness on and off the football field. But due to our protective and respectful nature for one another, mixed with the small country town spirit that was built around respect and support, we would quickly overcome any differences. This is where my willingness to listen and respect for diverse opinions originated.
My relationship with my father, Noel Milligan, who is here today, is a relationship built on mateship born from a mutual love of sport—a strong bond that we share to this day. Through my sporting activities with my father I learned the importance of working as part of a team to achieve a common goal, though I must put on the record that he is a Collingwood fanatic. Dad, it is not too late to join the mighty tiges before our premiership win next season.
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