Page 1768 - Week 05 - Thursday, 11 May 2017
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From this history, it will appear that the minister and her directorate are not aware of the requirements under ACT Health’s own letter of contract with Winnunga or what is required to run a residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation service. We call on the minister and the Chief Minister to please stop blaming the Indigenous community, in particular Winnunga, for their directorate’s failing in relation to the bush healing farm and to retract their inaccurate statements made during the week.
MADAM SPEAKER: Before I go to the question that the Assembly do now adjourn, I want to make reference to what happened when Mr Gentleman stood to seek to close the debate. The Clerk has provided me with a reference to page 496 of House of Representatives Practice:
The mover of a motion is not entitled to the call to close the debate while any other Member is seeking the call.
That is why that happened, Mr Gentleman: there were other members seeking the call. I will just bring to the attention of members that we got to the adjournment debate at 6.57. Thirty minutes are allocated for the debate. That takes us to 7.27. Whilst this is a house of assembly and a parliament, I ask all members to reflect on the impact on staff, who provide great service, and the ramifications of going beyond what was an assumed or agreed time.
Pegasus Riding for the Disabled open day
MS LEE (Kurrajong) (7.17): On Saturday I had the great pleasure of attending the Pegasus Riding for the Disabled open day at Holt. Pegasus is an iconic Canberra charity established in 1973 by a hardworking woman with a big heart, Bid Williams. Around 80 people with a disability participate each week in their horse-based therapy programs, assisted by a team of over 250 volunteers.
It is fitting, Madam Speaker, that this week, as we celebrate and thank our volunteers, I speak about Pegasus because it is the epitome of volunteerism. From the horses to the staff, the facilities and the upkeep of the place, it is all driven by volunteers. I refer to the people who donate suitable horses to Pegasus to be trained for the lessons that Pegasus delivers; the people and businesses that donate money for Pegasus to purchase horses and ponies to be schooled; the people who come each week to assist with the horses; the people who donate their skills to build equipment and facilities; the CIT students who donate their time to practice their building skills; the businesses like Harvey Norman and Watson blinds who donate appliances and household necessities; and foundations like the Snow Foundation, the John James Foundation, the Tall Foundation and the Honda Foundation who provide funds for essential items like horse floats and arenas.
Even the land on which Pegasus sits was provided in 1977 by the National Capital Development Commission—the NCDC, as it was known then—and it had only a dilapidated cottage, power, telephone, two boundary fences and “absolutely nothing else”, as Pegasus history records.
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