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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-02-10 Daily Xml
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SOUTH AUSTRALIA, SETTLEMENT CELEBRATIONS

The Hon. R.B. SUCH (Fisher) (12:12): I move:

That this house notes South Australia's impending 175th birthday this year and urges the state government and the wider community to plan for a comprehensive range of celebratory activities involving all South Australians.

I appreciate that the government has indicated its support, financial and otherwise, for celebratory activities this year for the 175th anniversary of this state. I want to emphasise at the start that any suggestion of celebration I believe should involve the traditional custodians of the lands on which we live. This is not in any way meant to be an exclusive celebration.

We know Aboriginal people suffered pain as a result of European settlement, even though South Australia was much more progressive in its stated intentions toward Aboriginal people than other states. Nevertheless, there is no getting away from the fact that there would have been pain and even today probably some regret about what happened to the lands that they had custody of.

What I am suggesting involves everyone in the community, not just the state government. We often call on the state government to do things, and that is appropriate, but we also have councils throughout the state, and we have a lot of community and neighbourhood groups that can and should participate in the celebration of our 175th birthday. It is important to celebrate what has been achieved in South Australia. We are not a perfect society, but we are a very good society overall, despite some faults, and there are ways in which, obviously, we can improve.

I was actively involved (which shows how old I am) in the 150th birthday celebrations, and a lot of wonderful things happened during that year that have had a lasting impact, including walkways and cycleways. A statue was erected to recognise Catherine Helen Spence; there was a focus on facilities for people with disabilities; the City of Adelaide did a jubilee commemorative walk and it put down bronze plaques on North Terrace. The council did a whole lot of things in that vein.

What I am suggesting, if people can celebrate and the government can support the celebrations, is a range of activities, whether it be a fun run, a barbeque or it might be all sorts of things. I am not saying that I endorse any one or all of them, but some of the suggestions people have put forward are that there be a ball of some kind (that is, in dancing); an update of our history books—that the Biographical Register of South Australian Parliament be updated; that we do things such as an audio history of current members, something we have often failed to do in the past (as we know, no-one is here for ever, and we have lost the opportunity to hear from members of parliament by way of keeping an audio history); photo essays; commemorative banners for Parliament House and King William Street; commemorative artwork (it is always a good opportunity when you are celebrating to commission some art); and educational activities.

When I spoke to the Managing Director of The Advertiser, Ish Davies, about this last year, he was quite enthusiastic about getting schoolchildren involved via the newspaper, and it could also be done through the Messenger newspapers as well.

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis interjecting:

The Hon. R.B. SUCH: The minister asks me, 'What is the official term?' I have it written down here somewhere; I will hopefully find it, but it is quite a mouthful. Sesquicentennial was simple, but the 175th sounds more like a medical condition. It was here a minute ago; I will see whether I can find it.

Some of the other things we could think about doing would be a regional sitting of parliament—we have not had many of those (I think we have had only the one at Mount Gambier; I was the Speaker at the time); special activities for children—poetry, essays, debating, art, photography, day in the life of your suburb, street or South Australia in 2011; special exhibitions of Indigenous works; people from non-English speaking backgrounds; contribution of women; and commemorative memorabilia. The member for Schubert will like this one—commemorative bottles of wine. I do not think he will keep them long enough for another 25 years.

Another would be postcards. Even on the official government envelopes, like the ones I have seen in England, they put a promotional thing on the outside of the envelope saying it is celebrating or commemorating a particular event. There is no reason why we could not do that. There would also be all the usual other things.

I think it would be a good opportunity to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land. South Australians in general do not know much about the culture of our traditional people, and I think that is something that could be focused on, and there are other things that have been done elsewhere—time capsules, and so the list goes on.

Some people say, 'What's special about 175?' I think any time span like that is worth celebrating, particularly in a world where often a lot of negative things happen. I think it is important to celebrate birthdays. Just as we do for individuals and organisations, I think it is important that we do it for the state.

There will be people on Kangaroo Island, I guess, who would argue that South Australia started there, and Aboriginal people will probably say it started 40,000 years ago. I know that the people in my local area—I live in Coromandel Valley—are going to celebrate basically at the start of 2012 because that is when the 10 sailors from the Coromandel jumped ship, and the Lions Club of Aberfoyle Park and Districts is going to re-enact that. All sorts of community groups have become involved to celebrate this event: the Freemasons are doing an historical display and schools are going to be doing all sorts of activities. In Coromandel Valley the focus will be stretching from the end of 2011 into 2012, and we already have an active group committee which is planning many activities.

Whilst the state government has the overall responsibility, I think it is important that they help promote and engender pride in our state through celebration and create things which are of lasting benefit. The parliament itself should do some things which commemorate our 175thbirthday.

I have always been keen to have more tapestries in here. No disrespect to the elderly gentleman portrait and the one female portrait, but if you ever go to the United States and look in some of their chambers, they have beautiful tapestries showing life in their particular state. We could feature agricultural, industrial and commercial portraits, if you like, of those activities by way of tapestries to hang in this chamber.

There are other things we can do. I was keen to celebrate the anniversary of the founding of our parliament by getting a sculpture or something at the front, of the orator—a non-sexist sculpture—and we could have some plaques out the front and really showcase our role as a parliament in South Australia.

I conclude by urging the state government to really get behind our 175thbirthday. Councils, community groups, Lions, Zonta, Rotary—all of those groups—can help to celebrate this event. Let us ensure that, as we do it, we embrace all sections of the community to make it a genuine celebration of the contributions of the community and individuals in this state, and that we pay tribute to the pioneers and people who have come more recently. In doing so, we should also acknowledge the sacrifice of those who gave their lives so that we can enjoy South Australia today.

I commend this motion to the house and trust that members, the government and others will take on board the importance of celebrating this event and supporting the History Trust and other organisations that are committed to acknowledging what has been achieved in South Australia, and looking forward to the future for more than another 175 years.

The Hon. S.W. KEY (Ashford) (12:23): I seek to move an amendment to this motion as follows:

Delete the word 'impending' after 'South Australia' and delete the words after 'birthday' and replace with 'and the wide range of activities that have been arranged'.

I am very pleased to speak to this motion, and I thank the member for Fisher for agreeing to that amendment. I always think it is important that we, in supporting the 175th anniversary of European settlement, also acknowledge the traditional owners in South Australia—the first South Australians. I am very pleased that the government has made sure that that is part of the celebrations.

Although I quite often have the opportunity to speak against motions that the member for Fisher raises in this house (and he knows that it is nothing personal), I think he did come up with a very important suggestion in his contribution. In addition to the fine things that have been organised, the idea of having a statue out the front of Parliament House is a great one. I suggest having a statue of our first woman Speaker, the Hon. Lyn Breuer, member for Giles; or, if not a statue, then at least a bust of her. I think this would be a very good idea. I am not sure if that is what the member for Fisher had in mind, but it is certainly something that we should run with. Certainly the women in this house would like to see her acknowledged, and also perhaps—

The SPEAKER: You would need a big piece of marble!

The Hon. S.W. KEY: The other thing we could perhaps think about is honouring the Hon. Anne Levy, the former first woman president in this parliament. So, I think there are some ideas that the member for Fisher has put forward that I would certainly support and I am sure—

Ms Bedford: Or a tapestry, at least.

The Hon. S.W. KEY: A tapestry at least, as the member for Florey says, would do very well. I am also very keen (and I have had these discussions with the member for Fisher in the past, when he was, in fact, the speaker) about the need to make sure that we have artworks that commemorate our First Australians. That is something that I will continue (with the honourable member, I hope) to lobby for.

As members in this house may know, the reason for amending the motion is that we are now in the year 2011—in fact, in the year of the 175th anniversary of European settlement in South Australia—and the government has provided funding to try to ensure that the community is engaged in this process. I understand that community grants have gone through History SA, and my colleague the member for Florey will talk about one of those exciting initiatives associated with the Muriel Matters Society, which I think people will be very interested to hear about. This funding has enabled a number of community-led events and initiatives across the state, and I commend the government for making sure that there is an opportunity for people to celebrate and commemorate in different ways; and, I guess, make the celebrations are little more interesting.

South Australian History Week has turned into a month-long history festival, to be known as 'About Time: South Australia's History Festival'. The festival will increase from nine days to one month, running through the month of May, and will provide an opportunity for approximately 90,000 South Australians from across the state to actively participate and engage in history in South Australia. The remaining funds from this program will expand the 175 community grants program.

There have been a number of successful applicants, from the Adelaide Colonial Dancers holding a colonial costume ball in the Adelaide Town Hall to the Kildare College proposal to create an interpretive trail highlighting the lives of prominent Kaurna women. That, as the member for Torrens has importantly said, is in the electorate that she represents, and it will be a very important occasion for a number of us.

As I understand it, there is also The South Australian Company settlement on Kangaroo Island, and also the later arrival of the Governor Hindmarsh/Holdfast Bay celebration. The Art Gallery will stage a colonial art exhibition, which will be curated by Jane Hilton, who has a long and distinguished history as a curator in South Australia and who has recently been appointed to the National Gallery of Australia Council. The Art Gallery is involved in making sure that a number of colonial artists who have not previously been documented are represented in this celebration.

So I commend the motion, and thank the member for Fisher for raising this important issue, as well as for his grace in allowing me to amend his motion.

Mr VENNING (Schubert) (12:30): I commend the member for Fisher for bringing this forward because, he and I being the two eldest people in this place, I think it is great that we take an opportunity to recognise history. I will also say that I have no problem with the amendment; I do not think the member for Fisher does either, so I am happy to cooperate with that.

I think as a state we should never let prominent days go past without using them and reflecting back. I certainly support an active program, particularly in relation to re-enactments of what went on in the past. A lot of our modern Australians—our young ones—are, one, not interested and, two, do not know about it. It is great to highlight to them how our state was born, the history of it being a free state and our significant contribution to Australia in many ways, with inventiveness and productivity. So, 175 is a very significant birthday.

Can I suggest that, to commemorate our 175th birthday—and never one to let an opportunity go by without being controversial—we should look at the Southern Plaza that adjoins this building on the northern side. The Southern Plaza was completed in March 1977. This information comes from Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia:

The Southern Plaza was completed in March 1977, comprising a then-controversial environmental sculpture by West German artist Otto Hajek. No longer intact—

because they obviously cut it when they put the hole through—

the sculpture was conceived as a concrete garden and iconic City Sign. The lego-like forms and colourful paint work across the Plaza were designed to conceal an air-conditioning vent at the same time as providing a playful place to congregate. However, Adelaide's citizens never warmed to the idea, and it remains one of Adelaide's most under-utilised public spaces.

I had a look at it again last night with guests, looking at it from the balcony. Can I say that it looks very tawdry and tired. At the risk of being very controversial, I think it looks tawdry and tired, particularly when you see it alongside the Festival Theatre, which has all been upgraded. The Festival gardens are lovely with their gardens, their trees and their rockeries. It is all very attractive, but this area, I have to say, does not look very attractive. When did you ever see people congregate there? I have never seen people congregate there, and it is a very large prominent space of Adelaide.

I think we could consider, at this 175th commemoration, whether we upgrade it, renovate it or, dare I say it, replace it. So, I put that out for you as food for thought because I think that we cannot just sit back and think that, well, it has been there and it should always be there. If it is going to be left there, it has to be at least upgraded and made to look presentable, because at the moment it does not. I hope that would be the opinion from both sides of this house. I put that up as a project for the 175 years commemoration. I certainly think that it is a good idea and, hopefully, it gets cross-political support. I am happy to assist wherever possible.

I did note the member for Fisher's comment about a commemorative wine. I am sure that I could assist with the selection of that product. I am sure that, with member for Fisher, we could, through the house, through the joint parliamentary committee, arrange a tasting and put up a very suitable and appropriate product as a commemorative wine for 175, equally as good as the best Grange and priced accordingly.

Also, I believe that an education program in our schools should be automatic. It should be highlighted, so that all the schools have a program designed to bring all students up to date with the history of our state and what we have achieved in those 175 years and what we hope for the future. I also believe that books and pamphlets ought to be printed. I am happy to assist and join the member for Fisher, as the two oldest members in this place. I am proud of that.

An honourable member interjecting:

Mr VENNING: I am older than him. He's been here longer, but he is not as old as me. I am happy to join the member for Fisher on a committee to oversee the parliament's role in relation to acknowledging 175 years. As you know, I am into history and we should use all birthdays like this to reflect back on the people and events which have shaped South Australia and which have made it what it is today. In particular, I will use this opportunity—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr VENNING: —to pay tribute to Pastor Kavel, who was the grandfather of the Barossa Valley, who brought the people from Prussia to the Barossa Valley. He died 100 years ago only a few weeks ago, so it is great to commemorate that. It is all part of the mix that is South Australia, and in the Barossa Valley, too, there is a lot of history in relation to the Germans who came out so many years ago and who now make up a very important part of what South Australia is today. It is a great place to be and we are a mix of all countries, all nations, and what it has become is great. I am very proud to be a South Australian and I think we ought to be proud enough to commemorate our 175th birthday.

Ms BEDFORD (Florey) (12:36): In supporting the amended motion, I would like to put a few things on record. There was an article—I think it was in the Sunday Mail—recently by demographer Bernard Salt, where he explored the fact that so many South Australians go elsewhere to make a marvellous contribution. I did send him an email and we may work on some sort of program or project to look at how we can recognise the marvellous contributions that so many of our South Australian people have made.

South Australians have made great contributions. I think many of the members will have seen the movie The King's Speech, which is very topical at the moment, and learnt the story of Lionel Logue, who helped with the speech problems of King George VI. Many of you might be surprised to know that Lionel Logue learnt elocution at the University of Adelaide with one of my favourite people, Muriel Matters, under Mr Edward Reeves. It is that sort of contribution by helping someone overseas that I think it is really important, as we keep our mind on what we are talking about in celebrating South Australia and learning from history.

As we have heard from members, the History Trust of South Australia is promoting About Time, and instead of being History Week, it is going to be History Month. Parliament House is already going to contribute to that through tours through the house, and through the kind assistance of the Speaker, the Clerk and the JPSC, we have mounted an exhibition in Centre Hall on Muriel Matters, the South Australian woman who was the first person to speak in the House of Commons, which was another enormous step by a South Australian-born person.

Mrs Geraghty: What did you say?

Ms BEDFORD: The first woman to speak in the House of Commons. Sorry, I left out the word 'woman'.

An honourable member interjecting:

Ms BEDFORD: No, speak. But once you are on the floor of the house, you are speaking, aren't you, member for Fisher? We are going to be taking people through, and the education officer, Penny Cavanagh, and the community engagement officer, Brigid Tipping, are going to be talking about Parliament House and how parliament works and, no doubt, the role of the building. With their kind permission and assistance, I will be taking people through to talk about Muriel Matters and her contribution to women's participation in democracy.

We have mounted the exhibition in Centre Hall, which features the grille from Westminster, which is part of the ladies' grille in the House of Commons, dating back to 1855. It has been very graciously loaned to us by the Palace of Westminster, and we are in the final stages of confirming a loan from the Museum of London of the actual chains that Muriel wore the night of the demonstration. They were confiscated by the speaker at the time and spent many years in the Museum of London unnoticed, until we went over to make sure someone knew about their significance.

We are also hopeful that we might be able to bring out the prison brooch that Muriel was awarded. Having had her protest up in the gallery on the night to allow women to participate in the discussions in Westminster—she was not actually arrested for that part of the demonstration—she went back out the front of the building and was arrested for obstruction, which is a bit funny when you think of what she had done in the house. She had actually closed debate down in the house that night.

So she went off with one of the first groups of women to go to prison and was awarded a badge for that. That is Muriel's badge, which is in the Museum of London and we hope to have on show here, reuniting for the first time the three parts of the protest that so changed things for women in England. Again, another South Australian person at the front of changing society. I am sure a lot of us here hope that we get the opportunity to do some very outrageous things and change society for the better, and let's make the 175th celebration the beginning of our looking at how we might go about that.

The Hon. S.W. Key interjecting:

Ms BEDFORD: Sensibly outrageous, that's right.

Mr BIGNELL (Mawson) (12:40): I rise also to support the motion and to talk about my early days in journalism when I was covering the sesquicentenary celebrations of South Australia. I was a cub reporter at the Adelaide News. It was a fantastic year with the many celebrations, but the one that stands out the most was the end-of-year concert at the Adelaide High School oval. Little River Band played, and some of South Australia's great musicians came together that night. Because I was a young journalist with a media pass, I could get backstage, and it was one of the highlights of my life to that point. It was fantastic to be rubbing shoulders with Glenn Shorrock and all the people I had grown up seeing on the TV. I think I may have got a little carried away, though, because I went back to the News and filed my copy at about midnight and, when I picked up The Advertiser the next day, I saw it had the crowd at 50,000 and I had it at 100,000. Maybe I just enjoyed it twice as much. It is always hard to count crowds; the people keep moving.

I also have a bit of a family tie to this in that my great, great, great-grandfather, James Harvey, came out on the Buffalo. Originally, he owned a plot of land around Partridge Street in Glenelg, which I wish the family still had. Instead, he sold up and went looking for gold in Prospect Hill. I am sure the land at Glenelg was worth a lot more than the few flecks of gold he found at Prospect Hill.

I guess it started a relationship with the area that I now represent because, while Prospect Hill is not in the electorate of Mawson, James was 19 years of age when he came here and he had many children (I think 14 or 16 children), and they would all go down to McLaren Flat and pick grapes and help with pruning. So I have long ties to the area I represent. Also, James built the first set of wagon wheels in the new colony of South Australia, so I also like to think that he helped kick off manufacturing in this state; and the state has gone on and prospered for it.

It is good to look back and think of those early settlers in South Australia, the original South Australians, and also the waves of migrants that have come here over the years—the Irish, English, Greeks, Italians, Vietnamese and, more recently, people from Africa. It is good to remember all the various stages over the past 175 years—

The Hon. R.B. Such: Plus the Aborigines.

Mr BIGNELL: I did say the original South Australians, member for Fisher. Thank you for your input. I finish by supporting this motion and wishing everyone a very happy birthday.

Amendment carried.

The Hon. R.B. SUCH (Fisher) (12:44): I conclude by asking that members support it and that it be now voted on.

Motion as amended passed.

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