Pine, Mr G.M.

Ms THOMPSON (Davenport) (15:24): It is with great sadness that I rise to speak on the passing of a much-loved man and legend in my community, Graham Malcolm Pine, better known as Piney, husband to Lyn, father to Leanne, Natasha and Danielle, father-in-law to Lincoln and Damien, and grandfather to Layla, Cooper and Taylor. As well as fostering many children over the years, including two young children now, Graham and his wife, Lyn, have opened their hearts and homes to countless young people as a place of safety, guidance and support and have become well known and loved by the southern community.

Graham was always passionate about helping young people. In the 1980s, he opened a youth centre in Aberfoyle Park called The Place, which was funded by the Happy Valley Council and run by a paid youth worker and volunteers. His dedication to helping youth in the area and his success with the youth centre saw him elected to the Happy Valley Council in the nineties.

Graham also worked in Child Welfare and helped deliver a statewide program for the SA juvenile justice system in the nineties, and made many trips to Canada to replicate their systems here in South Australia. While he retired some time ago, he never stopped advocating for improvements to child protection and youth services. Up until as recently as a few weeks ago, he was speaking to me about opportunities for the government in this space.

Graham has always been very involved in his local community. He often visited my office and prior to that he got to know Nat Cook when her office resided at Aberfoyle Park, and prior to that he worked closely with the then member for Davenport, Bob Such.

For more than 30 years, Piney has been a regular and ongoing supporter of the Happy Valley Vikings Football Club. In fact, the last time I saw him was when I was taking my daughter to footy training just last week, and he gave me his usual big smile and wave. He was like everyone's dad at the club, always available for a chat and some good advice. I would like to share just a few of the many comments shared by the community on the footy club's Facebook page since his passing:

RIP Piney, a stalwart and old faithful of the HVFC. You will be dearly missed.

A wonderful man. A tragic loss for the club and community.

RIP Piney, such an endearing and lovely gentleman with time for all and anybody. Will be sadly missed. Our thoughts are with Lyn and his family.

Was blessed to spend a few evenings drinking a few bottles of red. You will be sadly missed by many.

The boys will do you proud this season.

A beautiful man, always had time for everyone.

Such an amazing man who will be missed by all that knew him. Will miss pouring his endless and seemingly 'bottomless' glasses of wine for him.

Hope you are having a glass of red and a laugh up in heaven.

A lovely man with a big heart.

Rest in peace old mate. Honoured to have met such an amazing man.

Just won't be the same without you mate.

It is clear that he was very loved and that his memory will live on in our community and particularly at the Happy Valley Footy Club. I extend my heartfelt condolences to Graham's family, his extended family and friends and the wider community who will miss him very much. Vale, Graham Pine.