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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-11-29 Daily Xml
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STORY, MS D.

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg) (15:40): It is customary on the last day of the parliamentary sitting before Christmas to extend good wishes and goodwill to colleagues and to also recognise the service during the year of our long-suffering staff and those who serve us here in the parliament. Today I wish to acknowledge the extraordinary contribution that Dawn Story has made, who has recently retired from my office after many years of service as my personal assistant and who has been part of our 'Team Bragg'.

Dawn has had nearly 40 years of service, however, in parliamentary electorate offices. She commenced her political career serving the people of Eyre for the Hon. Graham Gunn, who is a former speaker of this house. I took the view, as those would around, that if she had a reference from Graham Gunn and she had experienced and survived his employment then she must have some excellent skills. However, in addition to her work in the parliament, her career and service to the people of South Australia has been sprinkled with work in the disability sector for a non-government organisation, in the private health sector and in the mining industry. So, she has brought a breadth of experience to her continued service in the parliamentary field.

For a number of years Dawn worked for my father, who was a former minister of the Tonkin government. She was his electorate assistant—long suffering, I am sure, in that role, but she survived him, which was another important badge of honour on her CV. I particularly remember Dawn in her years of service at Victor Harbor, listening carefully with a sympathetic ear to electors, providing the calming dialogue of support and wise counsel. It is those attributes that she particularly brought to my office.

Some in this house would also know that she served for some 10 years as the personal assistant and electorate secretary to the Hon. Dean Brown, who not only is a long-serving member of this house but also served as South Australian premier and government minister. Through all of these different echelons of government, parliament and Public Service, and in the private sector, she has remained a hardworking, loyal and supportive adviser and assistant.

Many members would appreciate the significant amount of work that is done by our personal assistants and electorate officers, particularly during our absence. They are expected by our electors to provide that emotional support and advice not just in our absence but also to us personally. I wish to place on the record my personal appreciation for her longstanding support to the people of South Australia, most particularly to me and members of my office.

My brother Jim would turn up from the farm with crumpled and torn-up pages and she would be able to understand his writing and prepare a letter, and give him advice on that. Paul Armanas from my office, who joined us subsequent to Dawn coming to the Bragg electorate office, also wishes to extend his appreciation for her advice and support as a senior member of the team.

Lynne Byrne came in today as another long-serving provider of services to our electorates. She has also worked in my office on many occasions. She is a wonderful friend, and she and her daughter both provided considerable support. Terri Church has now joined the Bragg electorate office, and we welcome her. Terri has also had experience in all levels of federal, state and local government in senior roles of advice, and we welcome her to the team.

However, today is a day to recognise all those who provide us with support, but particularly I wish to thank Dawn for her extraordinary service and the accolade of having survived some of the most difficult members of parliament. At least she ultimately worked for a gentleman of the parliament, namely, the Hon. Dean Brown. Today both Dean and Graham returned to the parliament to pay tribute also to her service and to enjoy in the refreshment in the dining room, and I thank them for their attendance today.

Typically in my office, Dawn did everything. She even had to organise her farewell lunch, which she did admirably, and we all enjoyed that occasion. Well done, Dawn, and thank you for the service to South Australia.

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