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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2025-09-03 Daily Xml
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Private Members' Statements

Private Members' Statements

Ms PRATT (Frome) (15:47): Months ago, a national committee determined that SA tomato growers had it right all along, that eradication was not going to be feasible, and moved the industry to a management protocol. Finally, restrictions have been lifted on those tomato growers across the Adelaide Plains in my community. Sadly, for some it is too late. None were more affected at the time than Peter and Oriana Petsios of SA Tomato. I want to celebrate the hard work and perseverance of all the families who have been growing for generations across the Adelaide Plains and give them a shout-out. They have built their businesses over a long time, growing some of the best produce in our nation. It is certainly our state's salad bowl.

At the AUSVEG awards many months ago, Paul Cafcakis won Young Grower of the Year, his brother Jack won it the year before, and father, Emmanuel, won Grower of the Year in 2022. Businesses through this lush area of the Gawler River have put so much back into our community. To Harry Kapiris, who binned $1.1 million of tomatoes at the time, of Gawler River Tomatoes, I thank them for the work they keep doing. I thank Juliet Tripodi of Rainbow Fresh, the Mitolos, the Zerellas, the Marrones, the Simonettas of Perfection Fresh, Tony Sacca and his son Salvatore, who won an award at the protected cropping association conference just recently. They are an extraordinary community and they contribute greatly to our horticultural industry.

Mr ELLIS (Narungga) (15:49): We love celebrating new and improved additions to our local health system in my electorate, and we had a wonderful addition celebrated on 20 August at the Wallaroo Hospital rehab facility. We took delivery and officially welcomed a SOZO machine into our hospital, which was a wonderful event. I was sorry I could not be there whilst I was down here in parliament, but it was a well-attended event opened by a good friend of many in this room, Monique Bareham.

The SOZO machine, for those who do not know, is an advanced diagnostic tool that allows for early detection of lymphoedema through bioimpedance spectroscopy. It is a wonderful thing for those who are suffering from lymphoedema, to help aid in early detection and trying to uncover it so that it can be treated appropriately. Since the Lymphoedema Compression Garments Subsidy Scheme launched in 2021, it has been a wonderful benefit to those suffering from lymphoedema. In 2023, over 4,500 garments were provided to 2,405 individuals affected by lymphoedema in South Australia, and that number is expected to keep on growing.

While we are wonderfully thankful to welcome this into our local health system, it is the product of a wonderful community effort. Credit must go to Alison Meier and Pat Daniel of the local Cancer Council group, who led the charge and fundraised $17,000 for this piece of machinery, ably assisted by other wonderful community groups. I know it will be welcomed by lots within our area, but particularly by Lindi Brokenshire, our local McGrath Breast Cancer Care Nurse, and I look forward to seeing it being a benefit to our region.

Mrs HURN (Schubert) (15:50): There was an understandable flurry in my community and right across South Australia over the last couple of weeks when there was a conversation that started about the removal of 56 Canary Island palm trees in Marananga. It was something which I think came as a shock to many in my local community, especially given how iconic they are for our region, how iconic they are for the state of South Australia. Like many in this chamber and across South Australia, you can see imagery of these iconic Seppeltsfield palms being beamed right across the world as a beacon to attract people to the Barossa Valley. So when it was put as an option for them to be removed, it caused a flurry.

Pleasingly, after speaking with the Light Regional Council mayor, I do not think that there was any suggestion that this was a true and viable option. I wrote immediately to the government, to SAPN and also to the council, to encourage all parties to work together to save these iconic palms from removal, and pleasingly the council did successfully move a motion that a working group would be established. So I am pleased that the state government is now part of that.

I have also written to the government asking for a permanent protection mechanism to safeguard every palm along this stretch to be considered because it is not just about these 56 along Marananga—but about the palms right throughout Seppeltsfield that need protection, and I am looking forward to receiving a response.

Mr FULBROOK (Playford) (15:52): I rise briefly on behalf of Paul Kavanagh, who is the newly elected president of the North Pines Sports and Social Club in Parafield Gardens, and I do this to express thanks. Specifically, this goes to Cameron Taylor, General Manager of the Para Hills Community Club and, of course, club members for their support, and I ask that Hansard records our gratitude today.

Para Hills generously provided 80 chairs—black and red ones—proudly matching North Pines colours, which became surplus from their own recent renovations. This may seem like a small gesture, but to the North Pines community it means a great deal. It shows how clubs can support one another, ensuring resources go further and community spirit is strengthened. Cameron, in his role as president of Clubs SA, has led by example in reinforcing this principle.

On behalf of Paul and the North Pines Sports and Social Club community, I wish them every success as they continue to grow, and I extend heartfelt thanks for this act of generosity. It is proof that when clubs work together, communities thrive.

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