Page 529 - Week 02 - Thursday, 11 February 2021
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The list could go on and on, because there is no shortage of wonderful women who have contributed so much to our equality. I believe that each of these great women is worth commemorating and, while I may not have the skills to immortalise them in sculpture myself, I am glad that I can share their contribution on our public record.
Mr Alistair Coe—tribute
MR HANSON (Murrumbidgee) (6.10): I rise to make a few personal comments about Alistair, as a fellow traveller of the class of 2008. There is one fewer of us standing now. I thought Elizabeth Lee spoke very well about your service on behalf of the MLAs. But, personally, as someone who has worked with you for 12 years—it is a big part of our careers; it is a long time—I would like to thank you for your service to the Assembly, to your constituents and to the Liberal Party, and I would like to thank you for your friendship over that time. We have mostly been allies, occasionally adversaries inside the party, but I think that you and I personally have always maintained that friendship, which I value. We, as a party, will miss you. I will miss you personally. I wish you and Yasmin all the very best in the future.
Green spaces
MS DAVIDSON (Murrumbidgee) (6.11): May I just say, Ms Orr, that that was quite a lovely speech. I look forward to talking to you more about the women’s artwork initiative in appendix 5 of the parliamentary and governing agreement.
This past year has given many of us cause to think deeply about our connections to community and what we value most about where we live. When we spend so much more time at home or in our local neighbourhoods, and with reduced opportunities to gather together as a group, it becomes more important than ever that we have enjoyable spaces in our local neighbourhoods and places where we can meet with neighbours, family and friends. And while we are facing up to hard realisations about the fragility of our own existence, there is something reaffirming and nurturing about spending time in our natural environment and appreciating our beautiful bush capital.
This is what happened to residents in the Weston area over 2020 as they formed the Save Coolo Park group to protect their local green space from becoming a car park. Having access to grass and trees helps to mitigate the heat island effect of urban living and is a far more pleasant walk to the shops for the people in the surrounding suburbs than being surrounded by bitumen and cars. It is unsurprising, then, that former Murrumbidgee MLA Caroline Le Couteur’s petition calling on the ACT government to preserve the parkland and not build a temporary car park on the site received 1,112 signatures in June 2020. This is many more people than live in the immediate area and demonstrates that the green space is valued by people who visit the Cooleman Court area as well as by those who live there. I am sure Mr Cubey the wombat, last seen ambling down the path connecting Cooleman Park to Stirling, also values his suburban parkland home.
As a result of the efforts of the Save Coolo Park group, and with advice and support from the Weston Creek Community Council, including identifying alternative car
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