POINT PEARCE CEMETERY

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (16:31): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Correctional Services a question about Point Pearce cemetery.

Leave granted.

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: I understand that the Minister for Correctional Services has visited Point Pearce to see the work done by community service offenders renewing the Point Pearce cemetery. Can the minister provide some details about the project?

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Road Safety, Minister Assisting the Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (16:32): I thank the honourable member for his important question. On 31 January this year I had the pleasure of visiting Point Pearce to see the important work undertaken by community service offenders and to formally acknowledge the completion of the Point Pearce cemetery crosses project.

An honourable member: They have done a fine job.

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO: They have. Community service work in the Point Pearce Aboriginal community commenced in August 2006. Rural social worker and community corrections officer Mr Vic Porrovecchio had spent a considerable amount of time in close consultation with Point Pearce Aboriginal community elders from the Narungga tribe to develop appropriate community service projects for the area. Mr Porrovecchio worked with the elders to develop projects that aimed to provide offenders with a renewed sense of respect for their community, underpinned by the core principles of restorative justice—giving something back and making reparations for their crimes by undertaking work that is of benefit to the community.

In November 2006, the Point Pearce Aboriginal community expressed concern that the local cemetery had many unmarked grave sites and deteriorating crosses—

The Hon. J.M. Gazzola interjecting:

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO: The Hon. John Gazzola said that he does a great job, and he does. I know the Hon. John Gazzola is a frequent visitor to Yorke peninsula. It was decided that the manufacture and installation of new crosses at the cemetery would be a culturally appropriate community service project, and funding was secured from the Yorke Peninsula Development Board. Point Pearce Aboriginal community elders helped identify sites that would be allocated new crosses, and the manufacture of the crosses commenced in March 2007, with the project running for around nine months.

In that time 103 crosses were handmade from recycled hardwood. An average of four special needs offenders worked on the project for four hours, two days a week under the supervision of the Elizabeth Community Corrections Centre special needs supervisor Mr Graham Matthews, and assisted by a DCS volunteer. I am also told that two special needs offenders of Aboriginal descent participated in the project. After being made at Elizabeth, the crosses were installed at the cemetery by six community service offenders.

The crosses complement other excellent work undertaken by community service offenders at Point Pearce, including landscaping and paving, cleaning and clearing community household yards, cleaning the community hall in preparation for funerals, and clearing and removing roadside rubbish and abandoned cars. I am also pleased to say that further consultation between correctional services and the Point Pearce Aboriginal community is under way to identify and progress a range of new community service projects. These include:

the manufacture and installation of more crosses for the cemetery;

painting house numbers on roadside kerbs;

replacing shaded areas in and around the cemetery;

constructing shaded areas at the health centre and Point Pearce Aboriginal Corporation building; and

placing outdoor settings in those shaded areas.

I would like to congratulate all those who have been involved in the Point Pearce cemetery crosses project. The project is not only of great benefit to Point Pearce but also works towards reconnecting offenders with the community by encouraging productive behaviour and teaching offenders skills that may open up employment opportunities in the future.