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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2)
2008-02-27 Daily Xml
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REGIONAL SOUTH AUSTRALIANS

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (15:52): I rise today to acknowledge the many recent achievements of residents in my duty electorate of Chaffey. Members on this side take great interest in our regional South Australians, and it is good to see that there are so many people contributing so much to rural activities and the standards that are enjoyed by the regional areas. In TheMurrayPioneer I came across a story detailing the many achievements of Senior Constable Carol Bristow entitled 'Carol—a model of safety'. It states:

Senior Constable Carol Bristow of Renmark was recently acknowledged by Safer Communities Australia and was awarded an award of merit for outstanding service to the organisation. A great part of the success of the Riverland and Mallee Safety Assist Committee is due to Miss Bristow contributing a significant amount of her own time and energy to expanding the program and educating the community on issues of safety.

Miss Bristow has also worked with local schools to establish safety initiatives and arrange safety ambassador workshops. Miss Bristow is also the driving force behind coordinating all emergency services, including Safer Communities and the establishment of the Safer City marquee for the Riverland field days.

Acknowledging the achievements of Constable Bristow, spokesperson Bryce Saint of Safer Communities Australia is quoted as saying:

Carol is well respected throughout the Riverland area for her energy, enthusiasm and commitment to the local community.

Another local achiever is Graeme Ward, who was recently announced Citizen of the Year. For the past 30 years, Graeme has volunteered his services to the Waikerie CFS. Graeme's involvement in the organisation has been from the ground up. Graeme has been Waikerie's captain for the past 17 years and is the driving force behind the training and success that the teams have experienced in competitions over the years. On accepting the award, Mr Ward acknowledged all the volunteers in the community, saying that 'it did not matter who you were: you made the community thrive. The involvement (in volunteering) is not to get something back but to do what I can.' That is the sort of spirit that we see quite often in regional South Australia.

In the Loxton News I came across an article about long-serving Rotarian Robert Fielke, who has been recognised in Loxton Waikerie Council's Australia Day awards. Mr Fielke was named Australia Day Citizen of the Year. Joining the Loxton Rotary Club in 1976, Robert served as president in 1985-86 and again in 2001-02.

During his role as Rotary President, and as a member of the Loxton Recreation Grounds Trust, Robert has been heavily involved in the many beneficial changes to the Loxton area. These changes include the Mill Corner redevelopment of Bookpurnong Terrace, and the transformation of Loxton's western entry, from a barren wasteland to the Loxton Community Conservation and Heritage Park.

Robert's community involvement does not stop with Rotary. Mr Fielke is chairman of the Loxton Recreation Grounds and has been an active member for more than 20 years, a lifelong member of the Bookpurnong Lutheran Church, a member of the Northern Mallee United Farmers, and Stockowners Federation, a life member of the Loxton Football Club, and a playing member of the Loxton District Bowling Club. Mr Fielke has also received the Paul Harris Fellowship Award for contribution to Rotary, and is highly noted for his involvement in the formation of the Murray-Mallee Pig Farmers Producers Group.

Acknowledged for its commitment to the environment is Waikerie Primary School. The primary school has put together a Youth Environment Team, with its main goal being to educate children and adults about the environment and how to preserve it. At an award presentation I attended last year, the Youth Environment Team was awarded the ACSO (Australian Community Support Organisation) Award for SA Schools Community Projects, for its environmental study of drought.

The Youth Environment Team participates in many environmental activities in the school and the local community. Activities include community clean-ups, tree propagation for the Loxton and Waikerie councils, community and school recycling projects, joint projects with Rotary and presentations to other schools, Rotary and the Murray-Darling Basin Natural Resources Management Committee. The Youth Environment Team is also involved in peer teaching, where members present lessons to younger classes. It is great to see these young students taking pride in and helping to preserve our environment for future generations.

It gives me great pleasure to acknowledge the contributions these residents have made for the benefit of the Riverland community.

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