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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2)
2007-10-17 Daily Xml
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HARTLEY ELECTORATE

Ms PORTOLESI (Hartley) (15:54): We all know in this place that community groups are the heart and soul of all our communities, and today I rise to acknowledge the hard work of three groups, in particular, from my electorate. Although all very different, these groups perform such an important function that I would like to pay tribute to them today. They are the Hectorville Parish Social Justice Team, the Campbelltown Residents and Ratepayers Association (about whom I have previously spoken in this place) and the Kensington Park RSL. They are all fantastic community groups, which I would like to acknowledge.

A couple of months ago I had the pleasure of meeting with the chairperson of the Hectorville Parish Social Justice Team, Mr Gerald Hinton, and I was so impressed by his dedication and his compassion. He talked to me about the work that this committed group of catholics undertake in the community, in particular with our newly arrived African communities. Can I just say on this point, and I do not wish to dwell on it, that I am completely appalled by the federal government's position on this and I would like to send a message to all of the African communities in my electorate that they are more than welcome in our community. They play an incredibly important part in our community. I am incredibly proud when I see them participating in our citizenship ceremonies, and we are a better community for having them in Australia.

But recently the group, in conjunction with the Church of the Annunciation, Hectorville, unveiled a plaque reminding parishioners of the fact that the land occupied by the church is traditionally that of the Kaurna people. The group is involved in advocating equal rights for indigenous Australians, as well as the disadvantaged and underprivileged. It supports initiatives, including the Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation campaign, NAIDOC Week activities, and the total ban and use of cluster bombs by world armies. I wholeheartedly support the group's work in promoting reconciliation. I congratulate them, particularly since we passed the 40th anniversary of the 1967 referendum on indigenous rights on 27 May this year.

I would also like to congratulate and acknowledge the fearless work undertaken by the Campbelltown Residents and Ratepayers Association, whom I have had the pleasure of getting to know over the last few years, and the work they undertake on behalf of the residents and ratepayers in the City of Campbelltown. The group plays an extraordinarily important role as a scrutineer of the processes of local government, one that not too many people are terribly keen on taking up. In particular, I have had the pleasure of supporting the group's campaign for the retention of open space and their campaign more generally for more accountability in local government, something that I think the state government is taking up with vigour. There is also monitoring of rate rises, and so it goes on. They recently participated in the state government's independent review into local government elections, and I thank them for that. The group now celebrates their fifth anniversary, and I join with many other grateful members of the community in thanking them, in particular Marilyn Matthews and Cynthia Hood for their hard work and dedication. Well done!

Lastly, but of course not least, I would like to acknowledge the Kensington Park RSL—I live just around the corner from them in fact—on reaching its 60th year this year. In fact I spent a lunchtime with them just recently where we heard a fantastic presentation about the Battle of Passiondale, something that I was completely ignorant about; no longer anymore. I would like to pay particular homage to Murray Stock, the very elegant and charming president, and the secretary, Mr Craig Rossiter, who I think has been the secretary for more than 40 years. But over the past 60 years the group has had three RSL state presidents, two of whom have served the organisation nationally. I wish them well. I wish them happy birthday. They are all fantastic examples to all of us.

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