Page 4086 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 30 November 2022
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To Joe, my chief of staff and my friend: thank you for your confidence in me and your unfailing belief in what we are doing and in what we want to achieve—something that permeates your actions, guidance and leadership. When we first worked together over eight years ago, I knew you were a star. Once we pursued different careers, I wondered if, and hoped that, we would work together again. I was surprised and delighted when you agreed to come on board two years ago.
We have been so lucky to benefit from your intellect, your unfailing composure—in contrast to me—and your encouragement, and we are indebted to your efforts. The feeling I had eight years ago is the same feeling I have today. On behalf of my team, we wish Joe so very well in his future endeavours and look for opportunities to work with him again one day. In the meantime, we will comfort and guide ourselves by asking, “What would Joe do?”
To my boyfriend James, you are the love of my life and I feel very lucky every day. To my mother and my dear friends, thank you for being incredible supports to me: from the levity you provide to simply just understanding. I love you dearly.
We are here because we want to serve people and because those people put their faith in us. To the people of Ginninderra: it is the very best place to live, as I say year on year, and it is true. It is true because of the people, and it is true because of the community. There is nothing else like it. Thank you for continuing to put your trust in me to represent you and to get the outcomes that matter to you. I will not let you down, and I am so grateful to have so many people around me to support me in getting that job done. Merry Christmas to all.
Valedictory
MS CLAY (Ginninderra) (4.33): We have had a busy year in the Clay office. We have worked on public and active transport, planning, the environment, the circular economy and animal welfare issues, and we have put a gender lens on all of that. We have introduced a couple of pieces of legislation, we have run several motions and campaigns, and I have also chaired and sat on 13 inquiries this year.
It is important not to disappear into this building, so we made a real effort to make sure that I stayed connected with Belconnen. I have lived there for my whole life, and it is always a joy to be at home. I spent a lot of time out in the electorate. I attended over 150 local events, which was amazing fun. I ran weekend stalls and weekly coffee clubs, and we followed up on hundreds of constituent matters, covering streets, parks, planning issues, crossings, schools, shops, access to local services and much more.
It was a busy year. People see me at the front of this work, but there is a huge crew of people who are doing the work and supporting all of us to make sure that we can do it. I want to take a moment to thank some of those people.
First off, I have an amazing team in the Clay office. Mav has endless energy and soul for helping other people. He has given me tireless, expert advice on transport and on all things about Belconnen, and he has kept everything going in the office when we are losing our tiny minds.
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