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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2019-05-15 Daily Xml
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Motions

National Families Week

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (15:57): I move:

That this council—

1. Recognises that National Families Week is being held from 14 to 20 May 2019;

2. Recognises that the United Nations International Day of Families is celebrated on 15 May every year; and

3. Recognises the vital role of families (in whatever form they take) to the Australian society.

I am pleased to rise today to move this motion to recognise National Families Week and the United Nations International Day of Families. These two events are an opportunity for all of us to contemplate not only the importance of family to any one individual person's life but the contributions of family to our community. This special week is also an opportunity to celebrate the role of families not only in our own lives but across the broader community.

National Families Week is observed from 15 May through to 21 May. This is a time to reflect on what family means. This week is also a reminder to find time in our busy lives to appreciate time spent with our family and friends. To celebrate this important week, there are events held all over the country and, indeed, South Australia. They range from movie nights to teddy bear picnics for the young ones. These events are organised and attended by well over 100,000 Australians each year, and more than 100 organisations take part in the celebrations in South Australia. Businesses, councils, community groups and sporting clubs are all encouraged to hold events and celebrate the special role of families in all of our lives.

The 15th of May is also a special celebration as it is the International Day of Families. In 1993, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution which established 15 May as the International Day of Families with the intention to increase the understanding of economic, demographic and social changes that affect families and as a mechanism to encourage communities to reflect upon the significance of families around the world.

The symbol for the International Day of Families embodies the spirit of the day, represented by a heart that stretches upwards and forms the roof of a house. The heart is then engraved in a green circle to signify that the family is the centre of society and provides stability and support. The theme of International Day of Families changes each year. The theme for this year is Families and Inclusive Societies. This theme explores the role of families in advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly the aims of building peace, justice and strong institutions in areas that have been impacted by conflict, war and natural disaster.

While the theme and focus changes each year, the enduring aim of the day is to continue to raise awareness of the issues that families face around the globe and what can be done to address these concerns at a government and community level. This is a particularly important message for all of us to consider here in this chamber. We are privileged to have the power to change the world for the better and we should ask ourselves what we are doing in this place to help solve the issues that families face in their own community.

One of the most important roles that each family in our community can have is the role of educating the next generation. For all of us, our families, in whatever form they may take, are our first educators. Our families teach us about the world and, through the power of education, families help to build our society. It is my privilege to commend this motion to the house.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. J.S.L. Dawkins.

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