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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-07-14 Daily Xml
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Parliamentary Procedure

VISITORS

The SPEAKER: I crave the indulgence of the house for a moment. I have instructed that the clock be stopped. We are honoured today to have in the gallery two former employees of the parliament, Miss Jean Bottomley, who will turn 100 on 25 July, and Miss Evelyn Stengert. Miss Bottomley commenced work as a housemaid/waitress in February 1942 (even before the member for Stuart) and subsequently rose to the position of catering manageress with the former joint house committee in March 1950, resigning in May 1964.

In those days the manageress lived at Parliament House in a self-contained unit, which is now where the building attendants are located. The unit had its own bathroom and lounge facilities. Miss Bottomley once described the four course meals served in the dining room as being:

...with plenty of variety of good, plain cooking...There is nothing free in Parliament House—everything is paid for by those using the services provided. It is a very necessary service because of the uncertainty of and duration of sittings.

Miss Bottomley was honoured to be the manager of the catering services on 23 March 1954 when the parliament entertained Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh at dinner—

An honourable member: And Prince Charles.

The SPEAKER: And Prince Charles, I am told. The menu consisted of grapefruit or mock turtle soup, fried fillet of whiting, chicken cutlets, roast beef and horseradish sauce with peas, baked tomatoes and baked and boiled potatoes, and Peach Melba followed by bacon fingers and coffee. Other dignitaries who visited Parliament House during Miss Bottomley's employment include former prime ministers of Great Britain, Sir Alec Douglas-Home, Sir Anthony Eden and Mr Macmillan, as well as Sir Donald Bradman and Lord Bruce of Melbourne.

Miss Stengert commenced at Parliament House in April 1952, working as a waitress under Miss Bottomley, progressing to assistant manageress in 1960. Miss Stengert resigned in 1964 to work as a governess in Alice Springs for five years, and subsequently returned to Parliament House as the manageress of catering in November 1968. In this position she served until 3 May 1982 when she retired. Both these ladies gave long and excellent service to the parliament. It is fitting that we should acknowledge their presence here today.

Honourable members: Hear, hear!

The SPEAKER: We are honoured they have been able to join us on the eve of Miss Bottomley attaining the age of 100.

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