Matt Burnell (Spence, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Like many other members here, I spent the greater part of the daylight hours on 26 January out in the electorate attending as many events as possible that are held each year on Australia Day. These events provide an opportunity for many eager people to take the final steps on their journeys to becoming Australian citizens. It is also an important opportunity for our community to acknowledge individuals and organisations whose peers and neighbours are nominated for making their local area a better place to live. Many of these individuals often see themselves as more ordinary than extraordinary. I am proud of all Australia Day award winners that were announced across the city of Playford, the city of Salisbury and the town of Gawler. Thank you for making our electorate of Spence a better place to live.

While most—if not all—of these award recipients do not seek any form of praise for their efforts in their communities, I feel that makes them just a bit more deserving of it. I would also like to congratulate two very remarkable individuals from my electorate of Spence who were recipients of Australia Day honours. Congratulations to Spence's newest Medal of the Order of Australia recipients: David Cockshell OAM, who was awarded this honour in the civilian division, and Flight Sergeant Grant Reibel OAM, who received the auspicious honour in the military division.

See this speech in context