Kristy McBain (Eden-Monaro, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise today to pay tribute to an Eden-Monaro local who has committed his life to serving his community. Yass Valley councillor Allan McGrath has been involved in local government for 50 years after first being elected to Queanbeyan City Council on 21 September 1974. Councillor McGrath has called Yass home since 1998 and been actively involved in the community through various organisation. He was well known as the face behind Kidz Blitz, a beloved local toy and gift shop in Yass which he ran for 11 years. He had a vision to foster a cleaner, greener and more prosperous Yass Valley. Councillor McGrath has just finished a term as mayor and is now serving his community again as a local councillor who, at the age of 82, has given so much and still has so much more to give.

I would like to share with the chamber a truly transformative change that this government is having on health care in Queanbeyan. We have delivered the Queanbeyan Medicare Urgent Care Clinic, which is the single biggest improvement to health care in Queanbeyan since the introduction of Medicare. I hear from constituents every day about the benefits of this service, keeping families away from the hospital and taking pressure off the system. A local healthcare worker recently wrote to me saying:

… as a health worker in Queanbeyan (at the Queanbeyan Hospital Pathology) and a medical scientist, opening the urgent care clinic here in Queanbeyan has made a massive impact with the emergency department and the turnaround time with patients and quicker triage.

Labor is making tangible improvements in the lives of everyday Australians, for workers and their families. I am proud to be part of a government that is making these changes and will continue to advocate for the healthcare needs across all of Eden-Monaro.

I would like to recognise the latest recipients of the Goulburn Mulwaree Award, two local photographers whose work has deeply enriched the community. Throughout their lives, Jim Webb and Darryl Fernance have captured thousands of moments in the Goulburn region. Until his recent retirement, Darryl worked for the Goulburn Post, capturing events ranging from helicopter accidents to community events like the 2019 Goulburn rodeo. Reflecting on his years of service, Darryl remarked:

It's to record history.

…   …   …

Things should be recorded and shared. There's no good putting them away in a box.

While Darryl documented local events, Jim's work has also played a crucial role in capturing the community's essence. Photography has been a lifelong passion for Jim, who has taken thousands of photos at community events, including the recent Lilac Festival, where he won the award. I would like to congratulate these men on their efforts and dedication to Goulburn Mulwaree. The award is well deserved, and I encourage everybody to check out their work via Facebook and the Goulburn Post, where their photographs tell the stories of the community.

I want to pay credit to a family in my electorate that has provided a total of 85 years continuous full-time service to the Royal Australian Air Force. I recently had the pleasure of meeting Warrant Officer Cary Thompson, who told me about his incredible career with the Air Force, along with his wife, Sergeant Leanne Thompson, and his son, Squadron Leader Nathan Thompson. Throughout the family's career they have represented the ADF and the Australian government on international tasking, detachments and postings, including with DFAT at the Australian High Commission in Singapore and deployment command in the UK in support of new capability acquisition and introduction to ADF service.

When Leanne transitions from full-time service at the end of this year, it will see a cumulative contribution of the family to multiple deployments, including to Iraq and the Middle East, domestic and regional deployments in support of humanitarian aid and disaster relief, including flood, tsunami, earthquake and fire devastations over four decades. Warrant Officer Cary, Sergeant Leanne and Squadron Leader Nathan Thompson have contributed to the security and advancement of Australia's interests through their dedicated commitment to the ADF for 85 years and continue to contribute through active reservist employment since transferring from permanent service. Thank you for your incredible service to our community and to our country. We are so proud to have you as part of the mighty Eden-Monaro.

Today I want to acknowledge my sincere condolences to the O'Donovan family, following the passing of Ned O'Donovan from Tura Beach. Beloved husband of Barbara, dad to Michelle and Rebecca and pop to Karenza, Zane and Sienna. His daughter Rebecca described Ned as an 'absolute legend'. A memorial for Ned is being held in my electorate right now. I send my condolences to his family and to the broader Bega Valley. He worked at the Bega Valley Shire for nearly three decades in various roles, but was the Merimbula town team leader and known affectionately as the 'Mayor of Merimbula'. He had a cheeky grin. He was always up for mischief. He loved a punt. Ned, you will be sorely missed in our community. Vale, Ned O'Donovan.

Question agreed to.

Federation Chamber adjourned at 10:56