Page 6 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 13 February 2018
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I think we can all agree that Steve fought incredibly well.
Like so many Australian families, my parents took a huge leap of faith, displaying tremendous courage by packing up their lives, saying goodbye to loved ones in South Africa and embarking on a journey to a new and unknown country with a toddler in tow, in search of a better life for their children. This is a common story not only to our Australian identity but to parents everywhere, who constantly strive for better opportunities and a better life for their kids than that which they have had. I would like to thank my parents, Alistair and Bernice, for all of the opportunities that they have given me and my sister, Danica, and, most importantly, for instilling in us a confidence in ourselves and the belief that we can achieve anything we set our minds to, as long as we are willing to work for it. To my younger sister, I thank you for constantly challenging me and for always displaying a wisdom well beyond your years.
I moved to Canberra as a bright-eyed, fresh-faced 18-year-old, so incredibly excited by all the opportunities that the ANU had to offer, yet, like so many, absolutely insistent that I would be here for no longer than the duration of my degree. Again like so many, I quickly found that Canberra stole my heart and became home, and that is in no small part due to the incredible friendships that I found here. To my Canberra family, past and present, I thank you for your love, friendship and support.
There are three people in particular whom I must thank. Firstly, I refer to the two superwomen I am lucky enough to have in my life. Emma, I do not think I ever really asked you to manage my campaign; I kind of just told you that you were doing it. But your ability to effortlessly juggle motherhood, your career, other commitments and my campaign without ever batting an eyelid never ceases to amaze me. Angela, you too seem to keep so many balls in the air at one time and constantly take on so much for our cause. I am still convinced that you never actually sleep at night, but I could not imagine politics without you. And I say to Duncan that ever since my very first ANU Liberal Club drinks event, I never could have asked for greater friendship and a greater ally in my time in the party. I certainly would not be here today if it were not for your constant support, encouragement and incessant optimism.
Despite joining the ANU Liberal Club on my very first day on campus, it was not until almost two years later that I really received my campaign baptism by fire—the “Go for Coe” campaign of 2008. It was a whirlwind because we crammed about six months of campaigning into six weeks. You know that you are well and truly in the thick of a campaign when all you dream of at night is letterboxes and doorbells flying past your head.
I have had some fantastic mentors and supporters throughout my time in the party. I would like to acknowledge a few in particular today: Alistair, of course, for giving me that first job in politics and all of the opportunities since; Zed, for your constant encouragement and for being such a fantastic doorknocking companion; and Gerry, for your sage wisdom and counsel.
To the ANU Liberal Club and the ACT and federal Young Liberals, I thank you for the many life lessons you have taught me along the way but most importantly for the
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