Parliamentary Procedure

SERET, MRS CLAIRE

The PRESIDENT (14:23): It is with great sorrow that I place on the record the sad loss of Mrs Claire Seret, who has provided administrative assistance to the staff of the Legislative Council since October 2002. It was over a year ago that Claire experienced some pain when walking, which was much later diagnosed as cancer.

New members did not meet Claire, as she spent the past year having treatment, which she was absolutely convinced would enable her to return to the Legislative Council. Unfortunately, this was not so, and Claire passed away on 18 January this year. Claire had briefly been a reporter with Hansard in the reporting division before undertaking work with the Courts Administration Authority. Part of Claire's role in the Legislative Council comprised looking after members' travel and other allowances, and I am sure all members appreciated her dedication and attentive service to us all. Claire endeared herself to all who knew her.

Many staff and members of parliament attended the wonderful service that was held for Claire to celebrate her life, and it was interesting to learn of the remarkable life she lived that many of us did not know about—the fact that she grew up in Kenya and lived a rich and varied life within that beautiful country, before coming to Australia with her husband, Dirk.

Many of us also knew little about her wonderful family. I am sure Claire would have been proud of her two sons, who spoke so impressively at her funeral. We all join together in extending our deepest condolences to Dirk and her family for their loss of a wonderful person.