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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2023-11-15 Daily Xml
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Rollond, Dr A.K.

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS (Black—Leader of the Opposition) (15:18): I rise today to make a contribution on the life and times of Andrew Kenneth Rollond, better known as Ken Rollond OAM, former Mayor of the City of Holdfast Bay, a significant doctor in the Holdfast Bay region and beyond, and a friend to many in that community.

Ken Rollond—or Andrew Kenneth Rollond, as was the name he was given when he was born, but he became better known during his childhood as Ken—was born on 28 June 1940. He grew up on a farming property around Tungkillo in the Adelaide Hills. He went to Birdwood High School until he completed year 10 and then he went to Prince Alfred College down in Adelaide. He then studied medicine at the University of Adelaide, and had a distinguished medical career as a gynaecologist and obstetrician, delivering over 10,000 babies via his Glenelg-based practice.

Ken was much loved, and there would be very few people in the Holdfast Bay community who have made such a lasting contribution, both in the field of medicine and also in the field of public service through elected representation on the City of Holdfast Bay council. Ken entered Holdfast Bay council as a local councillor representing the Glenelg community in the late nineties, and then he was elected to the role of mayor in 2003. Ken was mayor for three terms, leaving office as Mayor of Holdfast Bay in late 2014.

Ken's contribution to the council, I think would be fair to be described as one of a maverick. He would always stick up for the little guy and try to add a voice to the voiceless and fight for causes that maybe did not make him popular amongst other elected members. In fact, there were times when Ken was not actually allowed to be the official spokesperson of the council, but that did not hold him back. He stuck in there and sought to get alongside people who were doing it tough and provide them a voice, whether it was a voice through the council chamber—which was sometimes denied Ken—or at other times, and regularly, through the media. He really became known as a significant identity from that part of Adelaide for an extended period of time.

I first met Ken on Australia Day 2008. I remember the day very well because Dr Ken Rollond made me an Australian citizen at a ceremony at the Glenelg foreshore on Australia Day 2008. That was obviously a very significant personal day for me, and to have Ken making a contribution to it was a special thing. I got to know Ken better when I subsequently entered the neighbouring Marion council and served as deputy mayor, and then put up my hand to represent the seat of Bright at the time, much of which was in the City of Holdfast Bay.

In fact, I was the MP who covered the majority of Holdfast Bay from 2014 to 2018. Ken supported me very significantly during my run for parliament. He got alongside me and introduced me to people. I remember working with him to support residents at the Kingston Park Caravan Park who were enduring the need to leave that long-term accommodation that they had there. Again, Ken was representing the little guy, getting alongside them and providing them with support. They had to leave, but Ken wanted to give them the support so that it was made as easy as possible.

Alongside Ken at every single function was his wife, the Lady Mayoress, Anne. Anne was with him in his practice at Glenelg. She worked there and was alongside him in Holdfast Bay at every community event. She was really as much mayor as Ken was himself. Ken passed away on 24 October this year after a long illness. He had struggled in recent times, but his passion for his family and community remained strong.

I want to use this opportunity to thank Dr Ken Rollond OAM for his service, and pass on my sympathies to his children, Fiona and Bill, and of course his wife, Anne, his son-in-law Andrew, and his beautiful grandchildren Amelia and Madeleine. Vale Dr Ken Rollond OAM.

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