Napier Electorate

Mr GEE (Napier) (15:31): Today I wish to speak about new beginnings and new opportunities in my local area. Napier is an exciting place to be and proves that there is real growth happening in the north. I was pleased to attend the official opening of the new Playford Uniting Church recently on Curtis Road at Munno Para. This religious centre has a large congregation, is committed to the local community and will open its centre up for people from across our community, regardless of their faith. I wish Reverend Peter Riggs and his team well for the future.

The new church building just about completes the new Curtis Road frontage, which has a diverse range of services all providing jobs for local people. There is also a gym, a vet, a service station, three fast food outlets, six restaurants, a bulk-billing medical centre and a childcare centre. There are a number of office suites still to come.

Also opening recently is the new Stretton Centre, which will focus on jobs, training and business development opportunities. The Stretton Centre joins the GP Super Clinic as examples of significant investment by the former federal Labor government in our local area. The Stretton Centre also provides space for the Playford public library, networking and co-work spaces for businesses and research facilities for the University of Adelaide, including the Australian Workplace Innovation and Social Research Centre.

During the next sitting week, even more jobs will be created with the opening of the Playford Marketplace, the latest stage of the Playford town centre. The marketplace includes a new Woolworths supermarket, 12 specialty shops and undercover parking on Curtis Road. These jobs are in addition to jobs that are being created by the opening of a new Reject Shop and Cibo café in the Munno Para shopping centre. The recent announcement of the Northern Connector will also create and maintain jobs for local people from the northern suburbs and will provide a much needed non-stop road for both freight movements and motorists from Gawler to Regency Park or Port Adelaide.

New opportunities have been created at Elizabeth with the official opening of the Northern Adelaide Senior College. The college, which was formerly Para West Adult Campus, has moved into new facilities adjacent to TAFE SA at Elizabeth. The new site provides not only opportunities for students to learn in a modern and progressive environment but opens up opportunities to access the resources that TAFE SA has to offer. I wish to acknowledge and thank Colleen Abbott, a great principal who has led the school through the whole move from concept to official opening.

I also want to thank former ministers Kenyon and Rankine and former DECD director Tony Cocchario and acknowledge everyone involved in the planning, building and, of course, the learning. It is a unique learning environment that provides a great educational service for young and not-so-young alike. I was pleased to hear that one of the graduates from last year has now moved on to study medicine.

Lastly, I want to congratulate Rebecca Goldspink and Melissa Raines, who were successful in winning the Fund My Idea Northern Suburbs Initiative over 44 other ideas earlier this year. Rebecca has been campaigning for years to see an accessible playground installed in the local area. She currently has to drive her family more than 40 minutes away to a suitable playground. I was pleased to present Rebecca and Melissa with a cheque for $22,000 towards an accessible playground at Fremont Park. They will now try to work with the City of Playford to get the design of the playground finished.

Having spoken of new beginnings in my electorate, I have to end my contribution on a very sad note. I advise the parliament of the untimely passing of Mr Anthony 'Tony/Jock' Thompson, President of the Elizabeth RSL. Tony was born on 26 September 1948 at Millicent and died of a heart attack on Saturday 3 October 2015 in Davoren Park at just 67 years old. Tony was a country boy who served our nation in Vietnam. On his return, he married Lyn, his wife of 44 years, and spent his life working on the railways and as a grounds person at Salisbury East primary school.

Tony was involved in SAPSASA, the Playford Community Fund and many other organisations. Tony served five years as Vice President of the Elizabeth RSL before serving in the role of President of the Elizabeth RSL from 2012 until his passing. I enjoyed talking with Tony whenever I visited the RSL and was shocked at the news.

Tony was farewelled by a gathering of more than 300 people at the Elizabeth RSL yesterday afternoon. I express my sincere condolences to his wife, Lyn, four children, 11 grandchildren, and all his family and friends. Lest we forget.