Page 4008 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 1 December 2021
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2021 started with a big focus on my Carers Recognition Bill, which I am extremely proud to soon hopefully have officially passed as legislation. Countless hours were spent in the development and refinement of the bill and I met with many stakeholders, including community organisations, community groups and hardworking carers. I would like to thank all the stakeholders and constituents who provided feedback and inspired and aided me to make my bill as inclusive and supportive as possible for carers throughout the territory.
Meeting with carers one on one, who will directly benefit from this bill, was a truly special experience. Many of these carers opened up about their lives, speaking frankly and fearlessly with me about their experiences. This was brave and I would like to especially thank these individuals.
Carers ACT, ACTCOSS, the Mental Health Forum and other organisations were also fundamental in helping to ensure that my bill will be the best to represent and empower carers throughout the ACT. A big special thank you to them as well.
As I have mentioned, there has been a lot going on this year and I would like to make special note of Sanjay and Jasmine Sharma, two of my constituents who live in Bonner. Sanjay and Jasmine voluntarily run many, many, many cricket competitions in Gungahlin through the Indian Australian Multicultural Sports Association. This year Sanjay and Jasmine put together an extra focus, bringing women, particularly the daughters, mothers and grandmothers who come to the men’s cricket matches, onto the pitch, creating a women’s competition and also a kids’ competition, bringing more women and girls, as they say, from the kitchen to the crease. This initiative to get women and girls into cricket has been a big success and I cannot praise Sanjay and Jasmine enough for the work that they do.
Additionally, I was happy to sponsor a petition from Sanjay on a much-needed bubbler at Bonner oval earlier in the year. This is the main oval where the club trains and runs competitions and I was excited to see the bubbler installed a couple of months ago. My congratulations go out to Sanjay for his community petition, which had hundreds of signatures, showing the true want for a bubbler.
Moving on, I would like to thank the Giralang community for their engagement and input throughout this year regarding the Giralang shops. I have been regularly in the community and talking to members about their frustration with the lack of progress on the development. This has been a really important issue, which I hope this place can help resolve while working with the community in Giralang.
I also want to give a special mention to the Gungahlin Jets—it would not be an adjournment speech without my mentioning them—my favourite sporting team that always makes both Gungahlin and I proud. Thank you for your constant support and for inviting me to all your events throughout the year. It is always an honour to be able to attend, watch the games and be able to present awards as one of the local members. I would also like to acknowledge Anthony Hambleton, a stalwart of the Jets, and, as of this last week, the most recent life member of the club. I look forward to seeing the club grow and develop further in 2022.
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