Damian Drum (Nicholls, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Last Friday I had the opportunity to go to the Dookie CWA meeting, where they had their 90th birthday. I was taken once again by the motto that the CWA ladies read before they have their meetings, and I'd just like to put it into the parliamentary record:

Keep us, O Lord, from pettiness; let us be large in thought, in word and deed.

Let us be done with fault finding and leave off self seeking.

May we put away all pretence and meet each other face to face, without self-pity and without prejudice.

May we never be hasty in judgment, and always generous.

Teach us to put into action our better impulses, straightforward and unafraid.

Let us take time for all things; make us grow calm, serene, gentle.

Grant that we may realise that it is the little things that create differences;

That in the big things of life we are one;

And may we strive to touch and know the great human heart common to us all; and O lord God let us not forget to be kind.

I want to congratulate all the ladies who are part of the CWA movement and have been for 90 years. Recently I was at Katandra for their branch's 90th birthday. As I say, last Friday I was at Dookie. My mum spent about 50 years being a position holder within the CWA in Shepparton and Congupna but also throughout the Goulburn Valley and Victoria. So I have a fantastic place in my heart for the selfless work they do for their communities, always putting their communities ahead of themselves.