HANSARD
SITTING CALENDAR
SEARCH
LIVE BROADCAST
Hansard Dynamic Member Index
House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2008-11-26 Daily Xml
Contents
Pdf Xml

WHITE RIBBON DAY

Ms BEDFORD (Florey) (15:47): In rising for what is no doubt my last contribution this year, I acknowledge that the house meets on Kaurna land and extend to all my best wishes for a peaceful and happy festive season, but it will not be peaceful and happy for everyone. As members know, yesterday, 25 November, was White Ribbon Day, a day when we focus on the harm and damage caused for all who live in violent relationships. I am grateful that so much is being done these days to expose this unspoken behaviour in all our communities. It is also important that we, as a society, know how to help when we become aware of this problem in our families, in our neighbourhoods and in our wider circle of friends.

Earlier this morning I was privileged to open at the City of Tea Tree Gully a forum on domestic violence and, in particular, the results of it on children. Professor Freda Briggs is leading a list of speakers on the topic 'Where is the child and youth focus in domestic violence?' I commend the YWCA, the MC, Angela de Conno, and all involved in organising the conference, especially the Central Domestic Violence Unit and our own local group in the north-east, the North-East Domestic Violence Action Group (NEDVAG).

I also advise members that two new resources will become available from today. A revised edition of NEDVAG's domestic violence information booklet will by now have been launched by Mayor Miriam Smith. I thank Sharon Marshall for her work on behalf of NEDVAG in compiling the updated information for the new edition. Also, the YWCA's new brochure, 'Relationship Things for Young People', will be launched. I look forward to hearing the outcomes of the conference and thank all speakers and workshop leaders, along with all conference participants, for their important work in the community.

It will also not be a very happy few weeks for students and staff at the Modbury Special School, which is located in the seat of Florey. Early news bulletins this morning advised that a fire had been deliberately lit at the school, destroying a staff room and classroom. Thanks to the fantastic work of the Metropolitan Fire Service, in particular crews, no doubt, from Golden Grove and Oakden—and such was the fire that back-up was required from other stations—I am told that the damage was limited to an area at the front of the school, with the rest of the school, which has been recently refurbished and upgraded, being saved from all but smoke damage. I visited the school earlier this morning, and staff, under principal Julie Aschberger, had settled the students marvellously and the day was progressing on as normal a basis as possible.

They tell me that the department of education has also been out and that its assistance has been fantastic. I would acknowledge that the Minister for Education called me this morning, expressing her concern, and I can assure her that the school was very grateful to hear that she had been in touch with me.

I was at Modbury Special School a week or so ago presenting Premier's Reading Challenge certificates and medallions to some of the 150 or so students who attend there. Library and teaching staff are to be commended for making sure that these students with very special needs are progressing with their reading.

Teachers at Modbury Special School are particularly dedicated and use their skills to make sure that each student achieves their potential, and it will be my honour to return to the Modbury Special School shortly to present awards to graduating students as they move on in their pathways for learning. Modbury Special School has strong support from their parents and the wider community, and a recent hugely successful gala evening proved that.

Before moving on from the work of the MFS, I would acknowledge that it had a busy night. I am also aware of its quick response and prevention work at a fire at the International Linen Service at Torrensville, which is a medium-sized South Australian owned business. Facing perhaps their busiest time of the year, I know that management and staff will be working around the clock to look after their hospitality clients.

A round-the-clock effort will also be required to keep our schools safe over the holiday period. It is a very sad fact of life that some people within our community will cause huge disruption and cost by attacking schools over the holiday period, by breaking windows, stealing equipment, damaging ovals and grounds and deliberately lighting fires. This is without considering the ongoing costs of graffiti.

I ask all people to keep an eye out for their schools from these holidays forward and urge them to call police on 131 444 if they see anything out of the ordinary, and I would ask them to consider being involved in their local Neighbourhood Watch or School Watch programs. I would like to thank all my local Neighbourhood Watch participants for their work on behalf of their communities and I look forward to working with them again in 2009.

Apprehending graffiti vandals is vital so that we can work with them to stop their behaviour, often by enforcing community service orders and removing graffiti. It is a great way to show them that prevention is much easier than clean-up or cure. I would also like to thank the army of people who remove graffiti all over the state. They do a great job in keeping our environment aesthetically pleasing.

We have much to be thankful for here in South Australia and by looking out for each other, stopping domestic violence where we can and preventing property damage wherever possible, we will all have a happy new year.

Time expired.

PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS
MEMBERS
GET INVOLVED
ABOUT PARLIAMENT
VISIT
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY
CONTACT