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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-05-19 Daily Xml
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LIGHT ELECTORATE

Mr PICCOLO (Light) (15:24): As members of the house would be aware, last week was National Volunteer Week and I spoke about volunteers in the community earlier this week. On Tuesday, and reported locally in the papers this Wednesday, an award was given to a constituent of mine, Mr Ian Skewes for police officer of the year. Today I would like to acknowledge not only Ian but also another person in my community whose work for Gawler and surrounding areas has been acknowledged through an award. Volunteers are very important to our community and I think we can never say enough about their contribution.

I wish to congratulate Senior Constable Ian Skewes who, on Tuesday night, was announced as a joint winner of one of the highest SAPOL awards: the Police Officer of the Year. To win, a police officer has to demonstrate high standards of professionalism in serving the community, as well as performing significant acts of courtesy, kindness, understanding or courage. Senior Constable Skewes has delivered in spades on all of those points in the Gawler and surrounding community for many years.

The award recognises his untiring work and leadership on a large number of committees and organisations in the Gawler area. His work includes fundraising and providing comfort for distressed families, Neighbourhood Watch, working on the youth development program—the Duke of Edinburgh Award—and encouraging young SAPOL recruits through the Blue Light program. Under his leadership the local Blue Light program has really blossomed. His work in the Gawler area has already been recognised this year, when he and his wife, Suzie, were named joint 2011 Gawler Citizens of the Year. They did a remarkable job and they are a remarkable couple.

Senior Constable Skewes lives at Roseworthy and is based at the Nuriootpa local service area in my electorate. He began his career as a police officer in 1997 at age 40. He shared the police award with a close friend, Senior Constable Monique Anderson, from Whyalla. I would also like to congratulate the Unley branch of the Rotary club, which sponsors the award.

The other person I would like to acknowledge today and congratulate is Lisa Frahm, who works as a clinical midwife with great dedication at the Gawler hospital. Lisa's hard work, professionalism and commitment has seen her receive one of the 2011 nursing and midwifery excellence awards presented on 6 May 2011.

Midwives are trusted and respected because of the lasting difference they make to the lives of women, their families and communities. I would like to acknowledge the midwifery program at the Gawler Health Service which is highly regarded and very much supported, obviously, by women (and also their families) for the program and service it provides.

Lisa first registered as a midwife in 1993, and obtained a Masters of Midwifery in 2004, working as a midwife at Eudunda and Kapunda hospitals before commencing at the Gawler Health Service. She has a particular interest in continuity of care for women throughout their pregnancies, and has been working as a caseload midwife since 2009.

Lisa appreciates the opportunity to get to know women and their families throughout their pregnancies and birth. The increased satisfaction levels for Lisa and her clients have led to numerous compliments and two award nominations from grateful clients. She came to our attention when a member of our community came to my office to ensure that the Minister for Health and others were aware of her great work in Gawler.

Lisa works as part of the One on One program, which was established in 2009 in response to best-practice evidence about birth outcomes for women with a known midwife and which is based on the ideal that having the opportunity to develop a relationship between the client and the midwife improves satisfaction and outcomes during pregnancy, labour and early parenting. Lisa is a role model for the program and I, personally, would like to pass on my congratulations to her.

Lisa's work and professional approach is deeply appreciated by her clients, in particular for her efforts which go above and beyond the call of duty. Gerry Lloyd, Director of Nursing and Midwifery, and staff at the Gawler hospital are delighted with her nomination and her award—and also recognise that she is well supported by others in the area.

Lisa understands that this level of care cannot be provided by one person, and the high level support she receives from midwifery, medical and management colleagues is fully appreciated. As I mentioned, Lisa was nominated for two awards. She also received the Australian College of Midwives Johnson's Baby Midwife of the Year National Award for 2011, which further underlines the quality of her care. I congratulate Lisa, and also the Gawler Health Service, for their care of women in our community.

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