Elder Electorate

Ms CLANCY (Elder) (15:28): When I was campaigning and out doorknocking before the election, I was in one particular part of Mitchell Park where a number of people over and over again as I knocked on their doors raised the issue of a disconnection in the community. Hamilton Secondary College had put up fences around their oval and an unintended consequence of that was that it divided the suburb. It meant that people from one particular side of Mitchell Park were not able to access the Mitchell Park Train Station, or were not able to get to Mitchell Park Sports and Community Centre or Clovelly Park Primary School very easily. I finished that day's doorknocking and I remember immediately calling the now Minister for Education, but shadow at the time, and saying we need to do something.

I was able to get some funding committed and promised before the election and I just wanted to update the house, because I am sure everyone has been wondering. The walkway that connects the two parts of Mitchell Park has now been completed. I got to open that recently with a couple of locals, Helen and Lazarr. It was just lovely to spend the morning with a few people who were really excited, and to have people share with me that now they actually take the train or now they are able to go and meet up with a friend who is just on the other side of the oval whereas it was too difficult to get there previously. It is really heartening to know that something that seems pretty little, and is not too expensive, actually makes a really big difference to our community, so I am really happy.

Another commitment that we made, and I made alongside the member for Badcoe, was an upgrade to the Clarence Park train station. Some of that work began last year, but now we have actually completed the ramps that make the station a lot more accessible. We will soon be seeing pedestrian safety gates there, as well as a lot more beautification at the station, which will be great for the people in the northern end of my electorate.

One of the first commitments I made leading up to the election was a million-dollar upgrade of CC Hood reserve. This is a well-used and well-loved reserve in the community in Panorama. I am really glad to let everyone know that now we have a couple of soccer goals there that have been installed. There is a lot more to come, including a small-dog dog park, a playground, a mini pump track and basketball rings. There is a lot that is going to be happening in that area soon, and I know the community is really looking forward to it.

Westbourne Park Primary School now has some new toilets, thanks to funding from the state government that we announced before the election, and work has now begun on the new nature play area there as well. At a nearby school, Edwardstown Primary School, we have seen the demolition of one building to make room for the new classrooms that our government is delivering in that area. There is a lot of great stuff happening in Elder. I am really excited that so many members of our community are getting to see this work being done by our state Labor government.

A couple of weeks ago I was in the member for Narungga's electorate. I drove up for the day and went to Wallaroo to thank Lifeline volunteers. As the Premier's Advocate for Suicide Prevention I got to head out there, along with a few of my colleagues: the member for Narungga, the member for Frome and the member for Stuart—is that right?

Mrs Hurn: Yes.

Ms CLANCY: Excellent, thank you. I got to catch up with them all. I did not get to catch up with the member for Flinders last weekend, unfortunately, like I did last year, although I look forward to heading back to that conference again soon on Eyre Peninsula.

It was a great event at Wallaroo, because there are a number of incredible volunteers who do so many different jobs at the Lifeline op shops. The funds that are raised in those op shops actually help to provide a number of services to those local areas. Even though somebody who heads out there and works on the cash register or packs the shelves might not see that endpoint and somebody getting the support they need, they really are part of something really special.

I am just so grateful that we have so many people in our communities who want to make a difference and want to support one another. We cannot operate as silos; we cannot just be worried about ourselves. As things get tougher and we see people struggling in our communities, it is ever more important that we are reaching out to one another and looking out for one another as well. So thank you, and here's to Elder!