Page 4120 - Week 15 - Thursday, 17 December 1992

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All of this was done on a very lean budget, with only Jeff's experience and background to work from. Jeff also provided the training for our attendants. The professional manner in which all of our attendants in this chamber perform their duties, as well as their good-humoured approach to their job, is, I believe, a credit to Jeff. Madam Speaker, it is often easy to forget that being an attendant does not consist of just sitting and waiting for one of us to press our call button. There are many other duties, such as handling the correspondence that flows into and out of the building, telephones, the distribution of notices and legislation - so many of the things that we in this chamber take for granted.

It is with mixed feelings that I wish Jeff all the very best for his retirement. On the one hand, he will be sadly missed by everyone in this place; yet, on the other, he served this place and his country with distinction over many years, and it is his turn to have a break. I wish him and his wife Lorraine all the happiest times during their retirement. Jeff will be around for a couple of months yet, but today is the last sitting day that we will have him here with us as an attendant. Madam Speaker, I hope that all members will make Jeff very welcome back in this place during his retirement. My hope is that we will see him back here often when he has nothing else to do.

Mr Dennis Stevenson - Report on Study Trip : Valedictory

MADAM SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr Kaine; you took the words right out of my mouth. I am using this opportunity, firstly, to table a report which Mr Stevenson has given me. It is a report of study undertaken under his study travel bid. I table that, for members' information.

I will also very briefly use this opportunity to say thank you, first of all, to all of you members for your tolerance and professionalism. I would like to thank the library staff, the Australian Protective Service, the Wormald Security staff, officers of the ACT Government Service who have assisted the Assembly, Parliamentary Counsel's staff, the Secretariat staff and, of course, most particularly, Jeff. I and many other members of this Assembly will be joining together today to wish him well.

Valedictory : Retirement of Mr Jeff Brecht

MS FOLLETT (Chief Minister and Treasurer) (4.11): Madam Speaker, I would like to speak very briefly in this adjournment debate, the last for 1992. First, could I wish all members a very happy Christmas and New Year. I extend those wishes to all of our staff, to the Secretariat and to the members of the Government Service who have assisted so much with the conduct of the Assembly, particularly with the conduct of government business in the Assembly.

I would like, Madam Speaker, to echo Mr Kaine's wishes to Jeff Brecht on his imminent retirement. Like Mr Kaine, I have been in this Assembly since the start and I can say that it has been a very great pleasure to have known Jeff in his working capacity. I have found him invariably helpful, not just to me but also to visitors that I have on occasion had in the gallery, particularly my mother. Jeff Brecht has been unfailingly courteous and helpful towards those people.


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