Ruygrok, Mr N.

Ms SANDERSON (Adelaide) (16:16): Today we mourn the loss of a great man taken too soon. Nick Ruygrok, aged 25, tragically died yesterday at 6.30am in Sydney after being hit by a car whilst riding with the Dulwich Hill Bicycle Club. Nick worked in my office from 2012 to 2014 as a trainee and then as an electorate officer after graduating from Adelaide Uni with a Bachelor of Laws. He handed out how-to-vote cards for me at the 2010 election and was an integral part of my 2014 campaign.

Nick was school vice captain at Pulteney for the class of 2007 where he was also the captain of rowing, received the bronze, silver and gold for the Duke of Edinburgh Award, was the president of the Venture Club, and was a recipient of the Pulteney Bond Scholarship. He also played football and cricket at the school and was a huge Port Power fan. Nick was also heavily involved with the Henley Beach Surf Life Saving Club.

Nick was wise beyond his years and was a dedicated, hardworking and loyal staff member and friend. Nick moved to Sydney to follow his long-term love, Verity, with whom he recently celebrated seven years together. In Sydney, Nick worked for the member for Coogee, Bruce Notley-Smith, and most recently for Gabrielle Upton, the New South Wales Attorney-General, as an adviser and parliamentary liaison officer. Nick and Verity got engaged earlier this year with a party being held only weeks ago at Verity's parents' home in Prospect. Nick and Verity had recently bought their first home together and only just last week sent me a card with photos of their new flooring and their new home that they were redecorating.

All deaths are sad, but they are far worse with someone so young and with so much potential. Nick was at the beginning of what should have been a long and fulfilling life. Anyone who knew Nick has been devastated by his death. On behalf of myself and the Adelaide electorate staff, past and present, who worked with Nick, including Gemma, Jarrad, Jimmy and Sam, and all of the state Liberal members, our condolences, thoughts and prayers are with Nick's mother, Jackie; his sister, Maddy; his fiancé, Verity; and Verity's parents, Andrew and Tracy, whom Nick was very close to.

Our thoughts are also with Jarrad Schwark, who met Nick whilst working in my electorate office, who was riding with Nick as part of the group at the time of his death. Vale, Nick. We will never forget you.

At 16:19 the house adjourned until Tuesday 9 February 2016 at 11:00.