GRANDPARENTS DAY

Ms BEDFORD (Florey) (15:36): On Sunday, on behalf on the Premier, I attended the inaugural Grandparents Day and read the following message of goodwill that he sent to those gathered:

[Thank you to all for coming together today] to acknowledge and celebrate the significant contributions that grandparents make to their families and in the wider community.

Grandparents connect us to the values, stories and histories of our families and our communities. They play a valuable and unique role in our society through the love, support and sharing they offer their children and grandchildren.

Grandparents caring for grandchildren provide a vital support for the children, the children's parents and the community. Many provide a full range of care from babysitting and after school care, through to full time parental responsibility.

For generations, significant numbers of children have grown up in the care of their grandparents so that they can avoid the child protection system. There are enormous benefits to children's health and life outcomes for these children by being in the care of their grandparent. Income support through our tax, superannuation and social security system is vital for these grandparent carers.

Grandchildren in turn bring love, laughter and purpose to the lives of grandparents and grandparents provide knowledge, stability and unconditional love to the lives of their grandchildren.

In recognition of the valuable contribution that grandparents make, I am pleased that the South Australian Government provides funding to Grandparents for Grandchildren.

Grandparents for Grandchildren provide a range of support to grandparents raising grandchildren—including those who have full time care of their grandchildren. We acknowledge your commitment and support to grandparents and grandchildren.

Please enjoy the range of activities and entertainment that is on offer [today] and let us together celebrate the invaluable role and commitment of grandparents on this very special day.

It was really a great event, and the small but enthusiastic crowd gathered to hear the acknowledgement of country. I was honoured to be there in the company of the Lord Mayor, and I thank him for the funding from the Adelaide City Council. Councillor Tony Williamson was also there, as well as Local Government Association president David O'Loughlin. Children's Week Association was also a sponsor with companies like Aussie Farmers, RAA, North East Car Security, Savvy Health, Out Of the Cot, Jump First and Foodbank also contributing.

There were lots of stalls. Peace of Cake had wonderful gluten-free foods and other goodies. I particularly enjoyed the opportunity to have a piece of their chocolate beetroot cake and admired their wonderful muffins and fudges. Ridgehaven Scouts provided a super sausage sizzle, cooking to order when they were not too busy, and the Air Youth from Parafield also provided great egg and bacon sandwiches and lots more. Special food came from the Tongan community, the Sudanese community, the Liberian women and special spuds from The Munchie Wagon potato van.

There were lots of community stalls: Nunkuwarrin Yunti, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom—something I am particularly interested in through its association with Muriel Matters—Amnesty International, World Organisation of Early Childhood Education, the Association of Australian Conservation Youth UN Association, representatives from East Timor and the Australia West Papua Association. St John Ambulance was there too, on hand for any emergencies.

Special thanks go to John and Denise Langton, instigators of Grandparents for Grandchildren. Through necessity they have worked very hard to provide this community service, now so important to many. Last but by no means least, thanks to Bev and Ron Hall and their family for all the organisation that went into this great event. Their efforts on the day pale into insignificance as they put into action all that Grandparents for Grandchildren stands for in the raising of three of their grandchildren, who I have had the pleasure to watch flourish and who I have come to know as fine young people involved in many activities in the community.

Next year, this event will be bigger and better and incorporated as part of Children's Week. It will build on this important inaugural event, a start that so many thought would never eventuate, but it did, and it was enjoyed by everybody who went. I thoroughly recommend to everybody to put this date in their calendar for next year. Grandparents do play a major and significant role in ever many more people's lives, and I commend their work. It is done through love and voluntary work in the community, and I acknowledge all they do.