Page 4272 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 24 October 2017
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before. It is a miracle that I am actually standing here with both my legs still functioning.
I want to thank everybody who took part, because it is not easy putting yourself out there to do this type of thing. I thank all the donors who very kindly donated to Shorty and me, because it was with their help that we were able to take out, very importantly, the fundraiser extraordinaire trophy, having raised almost $5,000 as a pair. I also wish to thank the judges, Coralie and Steve, for the judge’s choice award for our 50s fusion of rock and roll and a bit of SH’BAM thrown in.
I thank Red Nose, especially Taren and Trudy, for their hard work, because organising events like this, especially rounding up people who are not used to competing, is no mean feat. The event last year raised $13,000, and I understand that Mrs Jones participated last year. The aim this year was to at least meet that amount. I am very glad to report that this year, with the combined efforts of all the participants, the event raised over $25,000. So best wishes to Red Nose in continuing the fight. SIDS takes nine little lives each day, and we want to do our part to ensure that we get that down to zero.
Women in parliament
MRS JONES (Murrumbidgee) (5.12): Last night here in the ACT Assembly we held an event to celebrate more than 50 per cent of members of the Assembly being women. It was held in conjunction with my role as the ACT rep for Commonwealth
Women Parliamentarians under the banner of stepping up events, which they encourage every parliament in Australia to hold each year to encourage younger women to consider a career in politics.
I pay special thanks to the Speaker, Ms Burch, who, from the very beginning of my asking about this concept, got behind it. I also put my thanks on record to Kate Carnell, former Liberal Chief Minister, for coming as our special guest to answer questions from the young women involved. Caroline Le Couteur, Tara Cheyne and I, as members in this place, sat on a panel with Kate Carnell to answer questions, and I also acknowledge Meegan Fitzharris, Vicki Dunne and Nicole Lawder for attending the event.
In particular, I give thanks to every single woman MLA in the place who nominated women to attend, because by reaching out to women of all sorts of political and other persuasions we spread the message that young people are capable of getting into this place. We heard this morning in Mr Doszpot’s speech about how empowering it can be to realise that this is not an unattainable goal for people in our city.
I put special thanks on the record to Madam Speaker for enabling the event to occur and managing the event by sending out invitations and getting back the RSVPs. I thank her staff for assisting us on the night with our nibbles. Two of Ms Burch’s staff are great women who are expecting babies; they stood on their feet all night, so I was particularly grateful to them. My son Maximus, famous for being the first baby
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