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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2010-11-25 Daily Xml
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THORPE, MS A.

Ms BEDFORD (Florey) (15:52): To continue my remarks of yesterday, Andy Thorpe was a sister-in-law to Denys and aunt of Janet as well as Andrena, and great-aunt to their children Hayden, Alexander, Madeline, Fraser and Fergus.

When I reached the airport, it was a lovely coincidence to bump into Peg and Andrena, by then on their way home. We were all able to spend some time together, sharing stories and reminiscing about childhood fun and simple pleasures. It was a privilege to speak with them at that time and to condole. Peg's and Andy's was obviously a special bond and sister relationship.

Andy's last years were not what she would have wished, but all who loved her are grateful to Dr Michael Voin and the wonderful team at the Riverton Hospital for their skill, sense of humour and great care. Knowing Andy was well looked after was a great comfort and greatly appreciated by everyone who knew her.

I would also like to acknowledge, on Andy's behalf, the many special relationships and great friends who shared her life and who will keep treasured memories of her forever. In particular, Tony and Maggie Gwynne-Jones, Peter Ryan and Joan and Steele Hall and their families.

I know first-hand how Joan especially has been a most wonderful friend to Andy, overseeing her move to Riverton, taking care of major and minor details and devoting much time to Riverton visits and purchasing essentials and items of clothing, always under instructions re style and colour, etc., and making sure that all would be as Andy would have liked.

Joan and Andy's family and close circle of friends made sure that Andy had the best possible care and the send-off she would have wanted. Among the readings and musical interludes was the song People, one of Andy's favourites. Death, like birth, is a secret of nature, as are all our special relationships. There can be no doubt, as Barbra Streisand sang, 'People who need people are the luckiest people in the world.' Vale, Andy Thorpe, you will be remembered and missed.

In conclusion, I would like to mention an issue that has a great impact on far too many people: the excessive use of alcohol. It is particularly pertinent today, on White Ribbon Day, the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, when we focus on domestic violence, so often fuelled by alcohol abuse. It is the day when we personally pledge not to permit, condone or remain silent about violence against women.

I spoke about Andy's involvement in feminism, and South Australia has a proud history in this area through the early granting of dual suffrage. Much work went into this breakthrough, spearheaded by our own Catherine Helen Spence, Mary Lee and Elizabeth Webb Nicholls, who we all look at whenever we are in this chamber. The latter, of course, was leader of the Women's Christian Temperance Union.

The South Australian branch of the WCTU was established in 1889 following a visit by American spokesperson, Jessie Ackermann. By 1899, membership of the WCTU was over 1,100. The Women's Christian Temperance Union was active in the UK as well as the United States and Australia. It is no coincidence that the struggle for franchise was taken up by this group of women, so keen to improve the lives of other women in, apart from temperance, raising the age of marriage, equal pay and fair workplaces among many other issues. These issues were essential to providing better lives and living conditions and were pursued through fighting for the vote.

Still active today, the WCTU now has an office on Sir Donald Bradman Drive after moving from its long-time home in Hutt Street. Elizabeth Webb Nicholls was its first president and served two terms: from 1889 to 1897 and 1906 to 1927. In 1891, Mary George became its first paid secretary. Under Elizabeth Webb Nicholls' leadership, the union took an active role in the campaign for women's suffrage in South Australia. It had a suffrage department convened by Serena Thorne Lake in 1890 and became involved with the Women's Suffrage League. It is no coincidence that our own Muriel Matters, Adelaide's internationally regarded suffragist, worked with the WCTU and met with them on her return visit to Adelaide in 1910 when she met with the Women's Suffrage League.

Society still grapples with the irresponsible use of alcohol. We look at things from youth binge drinking to the dangers of drink driving and the harm caused by alcohol-fuelled violence, not only domestic violence, but road rage, brawling and, of course, sexual attacks on women. The WCTU continues to work hard to make these issues important to both men and women, something that we all work together to ameliorate and, we hope, eventually make a thing of the past. While speaking with Peg and Andrena at the airport, we talked about the importance of strong women and agreed to aspire to Andy Thorpe's fine example of working hard to make a difference.

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