Page 5190 - Week 14 - Tuesday, 28 November 2017
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
With one child in primary school and the other too young for preschool, mum took the bus from Kambah to Bruce every day in order to gain her bachelor of education in primary teaching. Mum did not have her drivers licence and therefore relied heavily on the Australian Capital Territory internal omnibus network. That was not easy without the decades of ACT Labor investment that have happened since, that was not easy. At that time, my dad had started a logistics business and, after a full day at CCAE, mum would have to navigate the bus network from Bruce to Fyshwick to meet Dad before going home to finish her study and be a mum.
At the time I remember thinking that life was pretty tough for me as the oldest child. I had to help out with the washing, cleaning and cooking. I like to think I was only the average level of ungrateful kid. It is only now as a mum myself that I realise the sacrifices my mum made all in the name of supporting her family and broadening her horizons.
My mum’s first teaching job was doing relief at my primary school, Mt Neighbour. Thankfully it was not my class. My friends knew she was my mum and gave her such a hard time, but she took it all in her stride. Now, after well over 30 years as a full-time primary school teacher in ACT’s fantastic public schools, mum has decided it is time to pack the chalk away. I am relying heavily on my memory now, but she taught at many south side primary schools in this time, including Mt Neighbour, Farrer, Bonython and Gordon. I am sure there are many more, but I cannot remember them. In all of these schools she has had a positive impact on many children’s lives. Out and about in the community, people often ask me if I am related to Mrs Cody.
As a politician, I could not have had a better pre-publicity for my campaigns than my mum provided. There are decades of Murrumbidgee locals who have told me how my mum made a difference to their education and their lives. I congratulate her for decades of caring for and educating our children. Thank you.
Mr Kivashan Pillay—work experience
MS LAWDER (Brindabella) (7.01): I have recently had a work experience student in my office and he has written a speech that I would like to read out today:
… my name is Kivashan Pillay, I’m 21 years old, and I’m from Durban, South Africa. I like cars, entertainment, video games and action animated movies.
I’m also part of the School Leaver Employment Support … program with House with No Steps.
In the past, I have done work experience at the Brindabella Waste Management Facility, the Marist College library, and at Target. I’ve also had interviews at Ikea and Coles.
Unfortunately, I was not hired.
I began to ask myself, questions such as: “what went wrong during the interview?”, “why wasn’t I hired?”, “was it because I have a disability?” I will probably never know the answers to my questions.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video