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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2024-09-11 Daily Xml
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Motions

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Community and Parish of Prophet Elias

Ms O'HANLON (Dunstan) (11:22): I move:

That this house—

(a) congratulates the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Community and Parish of Prophet Elias Norwood for the success of their annual Norwood Greek Festival;

(b) recognises the work of the archdiocese parish and community, particularly for their many fundraising efforts in supporting the homeless and the Women's and Children's Hospital;

(c) congratulates the Ladies Auxiliary of the Archdiocese Community and Parish of Prophet Elias Norwood for their Five Loaves Initiative in providing food for families in emergency situations; and

(d) congratulates the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia that celebrates its 100-year anniversary in Australia this year.

I speak in support of this motion, which I have moved to ensure that the exceptional community work undertaken by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Community and Parish of Prophet Elias Norwood is acknowledged in this place and throughout our community. It is with immense gratitude and pride that I stand to recognise and celebrate this remarkable community, a community I am not by faith or ethnicity part of but by which I have never felt more welcomed and where I have many friends. Prophet Elias is a place to which I can go and feel the love and devotion from the laity to the clergy and from the clergy to the laity, a place which for me is one of untold joy and privilege to be present in.

Some years ago I was introduced to the kindly former president of the executive and exceptional chanter, Andrew Psaromatis. I was also blessed at this time to meet Father Michael and Presvytera Cynthia Psaromatis. They are both so generous of spirit, and I have valued our conversations. Father Michael and Presvytera Cynthia also gifted me a prayer book, which was personally an incredibly important and heartfelt gift to receive.

More recently, I met Father Ioannis Choraitis, or Father John as he is affectionally known, and Presvytera Angeliki. I have had the deep honour of becoming acquainted with Father John. He is a remarkable person possessed of both extraordinary humility and zeal. His love and devotion must surely be exceptional in his celebration of faith and spirituality as he tends to his flock, both in the church and during his numerous rounds of hospital and nursing home visits.

The Very Reverend Father Stavros Psaromatis and Presvytera Kyriaki have a status amongst the Greek Orthodox Community and Parish of Prophet Elias that can only be attained by devoting almost half a life of love, energy and dedication to the foundations of community that they have—40 years; 40 years of work that saw the institution of catechism for children and adults in English and Greek, weekly Bible studies, weekly youth group meetings and a newsletter in English and Greek and also saw him as the principal of the language school.

Under Father Stavros's leadership, a weekly radio program was initiated, as was a program of visiting Orthodox people in prison. The Ladies Philoptochos Auxiliary Committee also became more active, visiting hospitals, mental health facilities and nursing homes. Father Stavros even initiated Orthodox Christian sporting teams, including volleyball, tennis, soccer, and footy.

Last year, at the Norwood Greek Festival, it was my great privilege to take part in the presentation by Premier Peter Malinauskas of a silver platter to honour and recognise the Very Reverend Father Stavros's and Presvytera Kyriaki's incredible 40 years of service to the Community and Parish of Prophet Elias. I would like to take this opportunity to wish Father Stavros a very happy and blessed name day for this Saturday, together with all his grandchildren who are named after him—xronia polla, Father.

In 2022, I had the great privilege of meeting His Grace Bishop Silouan of Adelaide. Bishop Silouan is known for his deep commitment to fostering spiritual growth and community within the Orthodox Church. His leadership and dedication to pastoral care have made a significant impact on his congregation, further promoting a spirit of unity and compassion. His presence is marked by genuine warmth and dedication to the wellbeing of others, reflecting his deep faith and commitment to his calling. I am so very humbled by the warm wishes and communion that the parish and community have personally extended to me these last few years.

Today, I would like to honour and celebrate a rich history that spans 100 years of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia and the 65th anniversary of the Community and Parish of Prophet Elias Norwood. The history of the Greek Orthodox Church in Australia is a story of resilience, faith, dedication and hard work. The first Greek Orthodox Church in Australia, the Holy Trinity in Surry Hills, was established in 1898. It was followed shortly by the Church of the Annunciation in East Melbourne. These early churches were not just places of worship, they were safe havens for early Greek immigrants, offering comfort and a sense of belonging in a new and often challenging land.

In South Australia, Greek church activities began in Port Pirie in 1924. It was not long before the faithful gathered in Adelaide and, in 1937, the foundation stone of the Church of Archangels Michael and Gabriel was laid on Franklin Street. The growing number of Greek immigrants in the Norwood area soon recognised the need for a parish of their own and, in 1959, the Community and Parish of Prophet Elias Norwood was born.

The very first liturgy in this newly constructed church took place on the feast day of Prophet Elias in 1960. Since then, the parish has undergone many developments, including the construction of a community hall, youth group hub, a purpose-built Greek school and, most recently, a beautiful new marble floor. Each addition has strengthened the community, providing a place to commune together in worship, education and fellowship.

The journey of the Greek Orthodox faith in this country is marked by milestones that serve as reminders of the sacrifices made by all our forefathers. The Holy Archdiocese of Australia now encompasses over 130 parishes and eight monasteries. Just a few months ago, the patriarch gave permission for each of the diocese bishops to reflect their Australian roots, and Bishop Silouan of Sinope became Bishop Silouan of Adelaide.

These milestones are possible because of the hard work and unwavering faith of those who came before. Of course, that spirit of faith, dedication and hard work has not just seen the success of the Greek Orthodox Church. The Greek Orthodox community has achieved remarkable success across law, medicine, commerce and business, building and construction, and politics. They have also had exceptional success in ensuring their culture endures here in Australia through their vastly successful language schools and through aged care, such as St Basil's Homes, which also celebrate the significant milestone of their 40th anniversary this year.

These three anniversaries alone, and the professional success achieved by so many, speak to the incredible determination to maintain a connection to culture and language and to thrive as a community. They have done this here in South Australia, in fact across the whole country, but the connection does not end there. It is maintained across the seas with family and friends back home in Greece and in Cyprus.

Today I also wish to honour in particular the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Community and Parish of Prophet Elias Norwood for their incredible contributions, not only to their community but, more broadly, to Australian society. Their efforts reflect the values of kindness, generosity and deep-rooted faith that have guided their mission for generations. I have had the privilege of building friendships with the Community and Parish of Prophet Elias since 2019, and in these years I have witnessed firsthand the remarkable spirit of this community. Over the years I have been welcomed into their church and been invited to share in the spiritual celebration of holy days, for which I am eternally grateful. The love and warmth in abundance in the church is unmistakable and it is therefore a great personal honour to be able to speak to this today.

The pinnacle of that community work is always the annual Norwood Greek Festival, which was enjoyed again this year by so many friends and neighbours who came from far and wide. The word 'culture' can mean so many things. I believe culture is demonstrated in the way a community celebrates itself. The generosity, hard work and fun that go into preparing for the Norwood festival is awe-inspiring. It signifies what the parish and its members consider important to their Greek heritage. Certainly there is beautiful food and drink, enthusiastic dancing and singing, but most importantly there is a sense of sharing, a willingness to open their arms to others and celebrate a proud tradition of a strong and compassionate community life.

It is also a place where our Ukrainian Orthodox community has been welcomed to celebrate their culture and enjoy the warmth and support of the wider community as they confront the tragedy in their homeland. The Norwood Greek Festival is more than just an opportunity to enjoy delicious food, vibrant music and traditional dances. At the heart of this event is a deep sense of connection, between generations, between neighbours and between cultures.

I have personally shared in the joy of volunteering at the sweet stand, working alongside other volunteers to make sure that everyone can enjoy the beloved loukoumades, which I must say are always extremely popular. Every year we struggle to keep up with demand, with long queues of festival-goers patiently waiting for fresh homemade loukoumades. I very much enjoy volunteering on that stall, where we all work cooperatively and diligently to serve Greek sweets to a large crowd as quickly as possible. It is moments like these that show how much a simple act, such as serving food, can bring people together and create lasting bonds.

The festival's success would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of the parishioners, volunteers and leaders of Prophet Elias. Each year they pour their hearts into making the festival a joyful, welcoming and meaningful event for all who attend. Their commitment to preserving and sharing their culture and faith is truly commendable. In addition to their cultural contributions, I recognise the exceptional work of the Archdiocese parish and prophet and community of Prophet Elias in their many fundraising efforts.

One program that stands out is the Five Loaves Initiative, led by the tireless efforts of the esteemed Philoptochos, the ladies auxiliary of the Archdiocese parish and community of Prophet Elias, Norwood. This initiative, born of a desire to spread a sense that all people matter, was to provide sandwiches and rolls to over 45 families in emergency housing every week. However, it now includes people experiencing homelessness, meaning that over 450 sandwiches and rolls for both the homeless and families in emergency housing are prepared each week. Recently the program expanded to include the donation of 100 toaster presses, allowing families to enjoy warm meals during the cold winter months. The co-ordinator at Prophet Elias, Mrs Mary Bambacus, and the Philoptochos should be so proud of this initiative, which keeps expanding and growing every day.

The giving does not stop there. Through their partnership with Lutheran Care, Prophet Elias also continues to deliver essential food and care packages to those in need across Adelaide—and let us not forget the incredible work done by the youth in the Neighbours in Need program. It is so impressive to see the younger generation stepping up to make a tangible impact by distributing clothes, food and other essentials to the homeless across our city.

In addition to this is the awe-inspiring work done for the Women's and Children's Hospital. In this spirit of giving, Father John and the dedicated youth of Norwood's Ark step forward to bring joy and comfort to those in need. Through their Christmas toy drive, they collected over 600 donations of new toys—a remarkable achievement. These toys were donated to the Women's and Children's Hospital, helping to brighten the lives of over 230 families during the Christmas season. The Women's and Children's Hospital noted that this was the largest single donation of toys they had ever received from one organisation. It speaks volumes about the generosity and community spirit of the parish, and especially the dedication of the youth.

It is not just during the holidays that Prophet Elias, Norwood, steps up to help those in need. Throughout the year members of the parish, alongside Father John, make regular visits to community members who are isolated, bringing comfort and support to those who are lonely or disconnected, reminding them that they are not alone. Additionally, through fundraising and donations, the parish has provided much-needed support to missions in Madagascar and Fiji, helping to lift up those in need across the world.

These initiatives remind us that charity begins at home but does not stop there. It is about showing love and care for our neighbours, both near and far, reaching out to those who need help, whether they are in our own backyard or on the other side of the world. I want to recognise the youth of Norwood's Ark and all those who have contributed to these incredible charitable efforts. Their generosity and kindness have made a real difference to the lives of so many, and they remind us all of the power of giving back.

I was also personally struck by the strong contingent of parishioners from Prophet Elias at the ANZAC Day dawn service in Norwood this year. The role of the Australian armed forces in Greece is one of the less well-known stories of the Second World War, but Greek people will tell you of their gratitude and admiration for the Australian forces who fought bravely through the valleys and mountains to hold back the invading forces in 1941. It was wonderful to share in that special service with members of the parish.

As these important anniversaries in the life of the Greek Orthodox community in Australia and in my community of Norwood are celebrated, I reflect on the journey that brought this wonderful community so far. The church has been blessed by the dedicated service of its priests, including the tireless 40-year ministry of the Very Reverend Father Stavros Psaromatis and the current leadership of Father John, and also the many volunteers who have worked tirelessly to keep the heart of this parish beating. From the dedicated members of the Philoptochos to the youth groups and community members who help at every festival, fundraising drive and charity initiative, to the teachers and chanters, to the families and individuals, their work, their commitment and their dedication does not go unnoticed.

The SPEAKER: Member for Dunstan, your time has expired but you will get another chance to add some more comments.

Mr BATTY (Bragg) (11:38): I rise in full support of the member for Dunstan's motion today congratulating the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Community and Parish of Prophet Elias Norwood for the success of their annual Norwood Greek Festival; recognising the work of the Archdiocese parish and community, particularly for their many fundraising efforts in supporting the homeless, and Women's and Children's Hospital; congratulating the Ladies Auxiliary of the Archdiocese Parish of Prophet Elias Norwood for their Five Loaves Initiative in providing food for families in emergency situations; and congratulating the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia that celebrates its 100-year anniversary in Australia this year.

I thank the member for Dunstan for bringing this motion before the house. It is an excellent opportunity for this parliament to show our thanks to the Greek community and to your parish. It is also a wonderful opportunity to welcome the community that joins us in the Speaker's Gallery today. On behalf of the opposition, can I extend my very warm welcome to the many volunteers and community members of the Greek community and the parish who join us today, and thank you for being here.

The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Community and Parish of Prophet Elias is one of South Australia's oldest Greek Orthodox parishes and celebrated its 65th anniversary this year. The parish formed its first executive committee in 1959. In order to gain official approval for the establishment of the community and parish, the committee collected over 1,500 signatures from Greek Orthodox faithful residents right throughout the eastern suburbs: from many areas of the member for Dunstan's electorate, suburbs such as Norwood, Kent Town, St Peters, Kensington, Stepney, Maylands, Beulah Park and Magill. But also many of my own constituents find their names on that petition from suburbs such as Rose Park, Stonyfell, Wattle Park and right across the eastern suburbs.

Now for many decades since 1959, you have been a thriving community in your own right, but I think importantly and what we acknowledge today a really important contributor to our wider community and we thank you today for that contribution.

Perhaps that is no better demonstrated than in the Norwood Greek Festival which, of course, is an annual festival held in February every year and is one of the largest Greek cultural festivals in the state. It was first held in 2011. I am told that in 2024 you had over 4,000 attendees at the Norwood Greek Festival. Many of them are in the chamber now, either in the gallery or indeed on the floor of the chamber. It has been an absolute honour to go to the Norwood Greek Festival myself ever since I have been elected. I went a couple of years ago and I also went this year.

I was joined by many parliamentary colleagues from both sides of the house, including the then Leader of the Opposition and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, as well as many local members of parliament. It was a great opportunity to show some bipartisan support in this place for your community and the work that you do.

Why would we not be there, because isn't it a party! It is a great time at the Norwood Greek Festival. There is dancing, there is music and there is food—there is a lot of food. Some enjoyed the food more than others. I saw the Deputy Leader of the Opposition eating quite a lot of food. I can say that because he is not here. It is absolutely delicious and we had a fabulous time.

Not only is it fun, though, but it also does a lot of good. I think it is important that this motion also acknowledges all the work and fundraising work that your parish and your community engage in. You are a registered charity under the Australian Charities Commission. Your programs include visits to hospitals to see the sick, to retirement homes to support the elderly; the provision of a library facility and service for the local community; teaching the Greek language from reception to year 12, including SACE stages; as well as the maintenance, preservation and improvement of the first Australian Hellenic Museum in Australia.

This motion also acknowledges and congratulates your work with the Five Loaves Initiative. This was an initiative that began in Melbourne and was adopted by the Parish of Prophet Elias Norwood earlier this year. It supports and assists families who are in emergency accommodation in Adelaide by delivering fresh sandwiches and other food, and volunteers at the church donate and help make these sandwiches that are delivered to quite a number of families across the local area.

None of this happens without the enormously hard work of many, many volunteers. I am sure you all know what you do, we all know what you do, and the motion that this parliament will be unanimously supporting today is just a small acknowledgement of some of that work. We recognise your work, we thank you for your contribution to our community and we offer you our continued full support.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Energy and Mining) (11:43): I too rise in support of the motion moved by the member for Dunstan. I do acknowledge the presence in the parliament today of His Grace Bishop Silouan of Adelaide and the Very Reverand Fathers who accompany him, especially Father Stavros Psaromatis and Presvytera Kyriaki, of course, and the two Father Johns who are here as well. Sir John Kiosoglous is also here with us as well who is an icon of the church and a community leader, especially one of the founding members of the archdiocese.

This chamber has seen many debates, and these debates in this chamber have shaped this state. Whether it is a privatisation of a major asset or a change of a major reform, this parliament sets the scene for South Australia. What we are reminded of here today is what volunteers do for us out there that often goes unrewarded and unseen. The Orthodox Church led by our Archbishop Makarios of Australia and by our Bishop Silouan of Adelaide—those two servants who serve the Greek community also serve our state. They hold up a light, a lantern, for us to follow. They serve the Greek community by providing us with the church and its services which are so vitally important to the Greek community of South Australia.

We talk about festivals and we talk about the food and the loukoumades; what that really is is a gift back to the people of South Australia. Again, it is Greek hospitality at its best. It is the Greek community, whether it is in Norwood or any other part of the state, thanking our neighbours and thanking people who come and participate and join in the life of our church, our community and who we are. It is our identity to give, it is our identity to share and it is our identity to offer love and forgiveness, and that is what this parish exemplifies.

Under the leadership of His Eminence and His Grace, what we are seeing is our parishes deliver these remarkable services. Presvytera Kyriaki has done a remarkable job, along with the Ladies Philoptochos, in building a remarkable kitchen. The work that they do there and the food that they serve, whether they give it out to the poor or whether they serve their parish, it is done with love, it is done with honour and it is done in a reflection of service. It is a remarkable thing to see when you see these volunteers give up time away from their families, away from their grandchildren and away from people they love, to serve Christ and his church and to serve, of course, the community—because we are all in community together in that church. I think it is remarkable the level of service they have given.

Father Stavros has provided me with each and every Bible that I have been sworn in on as a minister and as a member of parliament, and I have kept all of those Bibles. The museum that he has built, the school that he has built and the community that he has built serve our community to this day and will continue to serve.

It is often said in our church that you can tell a tree by the fruit it bears. This tree at Norwood is a remarkable tree because it continues to bear good fruit, and that fruit will continue to serve when we are all long gone. When we have all passed and shuffled on, that community will continue to operate and continue to serve the people of South Australia because of the foundations laid by the volunteers who are here today. This parliament owes you a debt of gratitude.

How much better off are we that we have parishes and communities, whatever denomination they may be? What they do to bring us together, to make us think of something larger than ourselves, to be part of our community, to serve our neighbours, to serve our fellow man, to help those who are in need, to minister to people—what better example are they for us to follow? The state could not replicate that kind of love, that kind of charity and that kind of desire to serve. We cannot do it.

We pass laws. We try to frame society. But, ultimately, it is our citizens. It has often been said that the Premier is the highest office holder in the state, but the Premier always says that the highest office holder in any community is that of citizen. Our citizens at the Prophet Elias community do their best and they are exemplary examples to our community of the very best of being a community member.

I know that it is often difficult to run these community groups and it is often difficult to put on a festival. We turn up and we make speeches and we get served food, and it looks lovely and easy and seamless. What we do not see is what goes on weeks in advance. What we do not see is the planning. We do not see the stress. We do not see the cost. We do not see the draw on time away from families. What we see is a snapshot of the hour, hour and a half, two or three hours that we are there.

What we do not see with our priests is the time that they are spending ministering to those who are dying, speaking to families about their problems and concerns, and preparing and carrying the weight of Christ's ministry. We do not see any of that. What we see are smiles, we see philanthropy, we see love and affection.

I want to pay tribute to the people who are unseen, for those who are unseen are the ones who are here, the ones the member for Dunstan has brought to light so that we can all know and acknowledge them. Even the people who are here in the gallery today would acknowledge that there are many more people—probably 10 times the amount of people—who are not here today who still help and contribute: the anonymous donors, the people who are asked and who, without hesitation, help.

They are the ones we are honouring today, so it is appropriate that this parliament take a small bit of time out of our very busy schedule, where we are contemplating weighty matters of state, to stop and pause and thank those people who are the glue of our community, who keep us together, who keep us united, who offer us that love and affection, that forgiveness, and, of course, most importantly, offer us the truth in Christ's church.

So thank you very much to the member for Dunstan for what she has done by bringing this to the parliament, and I thank the opposition for their bipartisan support. I am not sure how the deputy leader will be feeling about his weight management, from my young friend the new Manager of Opposition Business. I look forward to telling Mr Gardner in person what you said about him; I am sure he will take it with the humour that was intended—maybe. Nevertheless, I commend the motion to the house and look forward to its passage.

The Hon. D.G. PISONI (Unley) (11:51): I have to say that Greek food is very healthy, full of vegetables and lots of protein—that is why I like to eat lots of it as well. I also have the pleasure of standing to support this motion. Just as the minister spoke about what happens behind the scenes, this is also an opportunity to talk about how it all started.

We know there is a saying with the Greek and Italian communities—you heard from the Greek minister, and now the Italian member of parliament who has been adopted by the Greek community in my 18 and a half-odd years in parliament—and I learned the phrase very quickly: 'una faccia, una razza' or 'one face, one race'. If you look at what we shared between the Greek and Italian communities, particularly when they arrived here postwar, it was about building safe and friendly communities amongst those who were here, who may well have travelled to the moon it was so different to where they had come from.

Remember, they came from a metric currency system to pounds, shillings and pence; from a metric measuring system to feet and inches; from kilos to pounds for the measuring of food. Of course, many of those who were involved in the early days of the establishment of the parish were working in contracting, in the building of homes, and all of a sudden they had to use feet and inches—and I bet the church was built in feet and inches. It was a significant challenge, but that was overcome because of a very strong community.

This is not unique to the Prophet Elias; all the Greek parishes were built by hand by the parishioners. These days when communities say they are building something it means they are hiring a builder. In the case of the Parish of the Prophet Elias it was actually the parishioners who were on the picks and shovels, who were laying the bricks. There were other skills too, of course, with people helping to manage the funds and raising the money.

This was not in the days of a 38-hour week or flexitime. It was 40 hours a week, and many of those parishioners who built the parish, the building in particular, were working full-time during the week. They were running businesses or had land where they were growing fruit and vegetables that they worked on the weekends to sell to get some extra money, or they were investing in property and working on those properties on the weekends. They gave up their time, and they donated money. I know that many of your parents and grandparents even signed bank guarantees in order for the parish to be built.

I compare my heritage in Australia with what I have learnt about the Greek heritage in Australia. I do not know what it is but, with the Italians, after about the second generation, there is a drop-off in interest about the Italian heritage. What I see in the Greek parishes that I attend and visit is that new generations are continuing to join the older generations at festivals and at clubs. What is the difference? Why is that? The demographics are very much the same, the reasons for coming to Australia are very much the same, the work ethic is very much the same, and I believe it is because you had to build your own churches.

The Italians were able to move into the Catholic churches that were here. I grew up in Salisbury. It was actually the Italian community that built the brand-new St Augustine's Church in the 1970s. It was the Italian community that moved into and supported an established parish, but you had to start yours from scratch, and I think the involvement of families and the parish is what has also helped to continue that celebration of Greek heritage that is shared amongst the community, regardless of where the community is from, whether they are fifth-generation Australians or whether they are new communities from another part of the world.

Your parish, and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese here in South Australia, are welcoming and provide open arms to those who want to share your culture, learn about your culture and share your activities. I know many of my colleagues who have attended your events always come away feeling very welcome and enriched by the experience. Congratulations, it is lovely to see you all here.

I thank the member for Dunstan for bringing this motion to the floor. I know that Steven Marshall would be very pleased to know that this celebration was happening today. He always enjoyed the time he spent with the Prophet Elias, and what he learnt and enriched himself with from the experiences and the culture of your church, and the friendship of your community. Congratulations, and thank you for what you do, not just for your community but for South Australia.

Ms HOOD (Adelaide) (11:57): I, too, would like to acknowledge all our special guests in the gallery today: His Grace Bishop Silouan of Adelaide, Very Reverend Father Stavros, Reverend Father Ioannis and Father John, and to all of your parishioners and volunteers, thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy lives to come into the parliament for us to celebrate you, and thank you for everything you do for your local community. I want to thank my dear friend, the member for Dunstan, for bringing this motion to the house today. As our minister Tom Koutsantonis was saying, this is just a small moment in which we can stop the parliament to be able to acknowledge you and thank you for everything that you do for our communities.

I want to make some short remarks in regard to my own beautiful Greek church in my community, St Anthony's in Prospect. I actually grew up in a country town in Naracoorte where, to my knowledge, we did not have a Greek church. But when you grow up in a country town community is in your DNA, and I never thought that I would actually find that same sense of community when I had to leave my country town to be the first in my family to go to university, but you find it. You find it in beautiful pockets of our community and, in particular, within our Greek community.

Whenever I step into St Anthony's, I feel such a sense of calm, of peace, of love, and of community. In this rough and tumble game of politics, that is not something you find very often. So what I very much appreciate when I am welcomed by my St Anthony's family is that peace and calm and love that the church gives to me.

Just earlier this year, for Palm Sunday, I went along to our Palm Sunday service there, and I was able to announce our contribution to St Anthony's new epitaphios. I have previously had the privilege of helping to decorate our epitaphios at St Anthony's, but let us just say that I think retirement might be well deserved for our epitaphios; it is getting a little old and long in the tooth. To be able to contribute to a new epitaphios, so that we can celebrate our Holy Friday, is going to be a very special moment. It is little things like that, those special moments—when I am invited into such a beautiful, welcoming and loving community—that are some of the most wonderful things about this job.

Once again, I want to take this opportunity to congratulate you and to thank you for what you do to build community and foster community, not just within your own families but wider. It cannot be overstated just how appreciative we are of the work you do and the community that you foster. Once again, thank you to the member for Dunstan for bringing this motion to the house.

Ms O'HANLON (Dunstan) (12:00): In closing, I would also like to acknowledge the great contribution of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios, who is so supportive of the clergy and volunteers here and recently visited Prophet Elias for its name day in July.

I also acknowledge the executive committee, currently led by the kind and good-hearted president, George Morias. It was previously led by equally good and dedicated people who have ensured the church's success. It is because of their selflessness that this community continues to thrive, not only as a place of worship but also as a beacon of hope and charity in Adelaide.

Looking back on the 65-year history of Prophet Elias Norwood, it is clear that the giants of today stand on the shoulders of the giants of yesterday, whose extraordinary efforts set an equally extraordinary foundation. The parish is strong and unified. I feel blessed to know those whom I already know and excited to meet those whom I have not yet met.

Long may Prophet Elias Norwood continue to be a place of worship, fellowship and charity for generations to come. Xronia polla kai evlogimena. I would also like to thank those from across the aisle for their heartfelt contributions. I am sure it means a lot. I commend this motion to the house.

Motion carried.

Mr BASHAM: Sir, I draw your attention to the state of the house.

A quorum having been formed:

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