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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2018-09-05 Daily Xml
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Weatherspoon, Ms Paige

The PRESIDENT: Ms Bourke, I will take it that you have gone one minute in, so you will have four minutes.

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE (16:42): Sorry about before.

The PRESIDENT: No, don't apologise.

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE: What makes the Weatherspoon family's story so chilling is that, like me and I am sure many in this chamber, we have nursed a sick child through high temperatures. I vividly remember the day communities across Yorke Peninsula and, undoubtedly, communities across the state were heartbroken by the Weatherspoon family's story in June of the year 2000. When Nicky and Dwayne's toddler, Paige, complained of feeling tired and running a temperature, it appeared that she had a typical childhood virus.

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Ms Bourke, I am—

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: Mr President, is another honourable member able to continue?

The PRESIDENT: No, but we have a couple of options. The Hon. Ms Bourke, you can complete or you can seek leave to conclude your remarks and come on a little bit later on this afternoon, or you can seek leave to have it inserted into Hansard. I am happy—

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE: No, I will be fine.

The PRESIDENT: Would you like to continue?

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE: It appeared that Paige had a typical childhood virus and she was tucked into bed to rest. Nicky had already endured a harrowing week after her mum had passed away from terminal cancer only a few days prior.

By evening, Paige complained of sore legs, and Nicky noticed bruise-like spots appearing. This prompted Nicky to take Paige to the surgery, only to be told that it was probably a virus and to come back in the morning if she wasn't better. At 2am Nicky had a very bad feeling and rushed Paige to hospital. Nicky and Dwayne lost their beautiful Paige at 3am on Saturday 24 June in the year 2000 to meningococcal.

Their story they have so bravely shared since this first annual violet day, where they turned the streets of the Yorke Peninsula purple, Paige's favourite colour—and that is why I am wearing my jacket today—to help create community awareness, has contributed to the passing of the meningococcal vaccination being free for young children—a policy decision fought for by Labor, but thankfully supported by both sides of this chamber.

I am not going to turn this into political point scoring—there is no need. Nicky and Dwayne's experience of turning adversity into lasting community awareness and change is nothing but commendable. It goes without saying that Paige will never be forgotten by her family, her friends and her community. But perhaps what the Weatherspoon family did not anticipate was how the foundation would bring awareness that would go on to help create lasting change for children across South Australia.

I strongly encourage members to visit the Paige Weatherspoon Foundation website to read the Weatherspoon story in full and to show their support, and I do apologise for being so emotional.

The PRESIDENT: There is no need to apologise.

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