Ministerial Statement

Hugo, Mr J.H.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA (Hartley—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services) (14:07): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: It is with great sadness that I inform the house of the recent passing of Mr James Henry Hugo OAM on Friday 12 February. Mr Hugo was a distinguished, respected and much-loved member of the Department for Correctional Services, a department he served diligently in a range of capacities for over 50 years.

Mr Hugo commenced his training as a temporary prison officer on 18 September 1967, initially posted to the Yatala Labour Prison before moving to the Adelaide Gaol in 1970. On 27 February 1969, Mr Hugo became a permanent correctional officer. In October 1986, he was appointed to the role of senior correctional officer at the Adelaide Remand Centre and became a unit supervisor on 1 October 1991. He acted in many roles during the 1990s, including home detention supervisor in 1992, unit manager at Yatala in 1994 and, for a short time, division manager at the Yatala Labour Prison.

Despite his resignation due to ill health a year prior, in a sign of his unique spirit Mr Hugo returned to DCS in 1996 as a visiting inspector. In 2002, he was appointed visiting inspector coordinator, becoming responsible for managing the team of visiting inspectors across South Australian prisons. He truly embodied the role, advocating on behalf of offenders, reviewing the conditions of our prisons and delivering monthly reports without missing a beat.

Within his local community, Mr Hugo served as a justice of the peace and provided services to a number of councils and community groups across Adelaide, including Campbelltown and Burnside. In fact, I met Mr Hugo in 2002 through the Lions Youth of the Year Quest. In November last year, I had the honour of opening the James Hugo Complex at the Yatala Labour Prison. I was particularly thrilled that Mr Hugo could attend. The James Hugo Complex comprises the Northern Metropolitan Business Centre and Learning Academy. Both buildings provide critical support services and expanded training capabilities.

Mr Hugo gave more than 50 years of distinguished service to DCS. His wit, charm and many stories will be missed. During his time with DCS, he received a number of awards, including most recently the Order of Australia Medal in the 2021 Australia Day Honours. He also received an Australia Day Achievement Award in 2019 and the Premier's award for outstanding volunteer services in 2008. In 2019 he was awarded a 50 year service medal from the Department for Correctional Services.

Despite his declining health in recent years, Mr Hugo never missed an opportunity to visit a prison, attend a Christmas party or the DCS annual staff awards. Always enjoying a cup of tea, he would comment with a sly smile that he was still breathing whenever I asked about his health.

Mr Hugo often lamented the number of ministers he had served, and I am confident there are many in this place with fond memories of Mr Hugo. He exemplified the Public Service with his passion for—as he described—the mad, the bad and the sad. Mr Hugo's experience is unparalleled, as was his fondness for the many staff with DCS. He is well known to have hosted personal tours of the old Adelaide Gaol for interested staff and their families.

Mr Hugo loved his wife, his family, the occasional hot chips and a nice glass of white wine. The corridors of Yatala, the phone line to central office and the hearts of many will be all the emptier with the passing of this fine gentleman. My thoughts and condolences are with Mr Hugo's wife, Faye, and family during this time.