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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-09-14 Daily Xml
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RICHARDSON, MR D.

Mr BIGNELL (Mawson) (15:20): I rise today to pay tribute to a local legend in Willunga, Dean Richardson. Dean is a stalwart of the Willunga Football Club and the Barbecue Shed, and last weekend he took on a good cause to raise money for his mates with cancer. Dean is a 59-year-old shearer who has been shearing for 42 years, and he set out to shear for 24 hours straight and to shear 400 sheep.

It was great to be there at the beginning of his record attempt on Saturday at the Willunga Farmers Market and then be back there the next morning at 10 o'clock when he had finished, ahead of time, the 400 sheep. I pay tribute to Dean, who did a fantastic job. He has raised close to $20,000. As he said, he is a shearer, not a doctor, so he cannot go and help find a cure for cancer, but he can help contribute by raising funds; and he thought if he did not do it before he hit his sixties he would probably never get around to doing it.

I also pay tribute to the many people around Dean, good people from Willunga who helped out. I mention Gerald Martin, who was the chair of the committee; and Derek Mawhinny, the secretary of the committee, and his wife Myra. Bernie Dwyer from Wood'N'Logs constructed a shed near the market so the first few hours of Richo's record attempt could be completed there before they moved to the woolshed at the property of Paul and Wei Giles.

I also thank Graham Giles. The record attempt went through the night and people were kept well fed by Barty (that is Robin Bartel). He is also a local legend and he catered for 150 to 200 people through the night with plenty of lamb and mutton. Deb Tucker, a local real estate agent, who is always involved in a good cause, whether it is the Willunga Farmers Market or any other community group, was there as well.

I know Dean really appreciated the support of Deb and many other local sponsors such as Aldinga Foodland, Larry from the Alma Hotel, Doc Adams Wines and Chook McCoy. Chook is a legend. He gets people from the pub and takes them home each night of the week. If you have had too many and do not want to drive your car, Chook has set up a service to make sure that everyone gets home safely.

He also does some outstanding wine tours. Chook was taking people home from the pub on Saturday night and, instead of taking them straight home, he would detour past the woolshed so they could give Richo a bit of encouragement. He donated the night's proceeds to the cause as well. Bernie Dwyer's daughter Emma was also involved. I must mention Richo's wife Sharyn, who did a great job, as well. I saw her early Sunday morning, and she had had about an hour's sleep in the car.

It was terrific to see everyone get out and support it. I must mention the Hon. Robert Brokenshire from another place. He was there and conducted the auction on Saturday night. He also got involved when they asked him to shear a sheep. He took 9½ minutes, and there was a little bit of a nick to the sheep's ear and he had more claret over his moleskins than anyone had in their glass all night.

He made a bit of a mess, but everyone reports that the sheep is in good order, and I know everyone appreciated Robert's attendance on the night to help with a good cause. There is another good cause happening this Friday. The Peter Couche Foundation is having a 'Don't speak for an hour' function to raise money for stem cell research to help stroke victims. I do not know whether anyone saw the magnificent 7.30 SA program last Friday night, but it featured Peter Couche.

I challenge the member for Bragg to join in and stay silent for an hour but, instead of doing it Friday when the rest of the people are doing it, maybe do it during question time tomorrow so that we have no interjections. If so, I am happy to chip it off with $100. That is another good cause that is out there, and I hope the member for Bragg takes up the invitation.

Also, I just want to mention that South Adelaide is in the finals for the first time since 2006. I wish them all the very best for Sunday up against Glenelg. Unfortunately, I have got my mother's 70th birthday so I will not be there, but I will be saying, like the Premier always says, 'Go Panthers!' It has been a terrific year, and what a great turnaround the club has had under Ron Fuller.

I would also like to point out that the Ken Farmer Medal has come South Adelaide's way this year, with full forward Michael Wundke kicking 67 goals to be the league's highest goal scorer; and I wish Joel Cross all the very best for the Magarey Medal after taking out The Advertiser's SANFL Award.

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