Page 4963 - Week 15 - Thursday, 15 December 2005
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
This year the ride raised a total of $2,400 in cash donations. These funds will go directly to the Smith Family and the Salvation Army to help out during this, their busiest time of year. In addition, there were so many toys donated that MRA members had great difficulty loading them onto the back of a truck for delivery. Special mention needs to be made of the riders from Australia Post, who donated big boxes of toys valued at over $3,000.
The toy run is about raising funds and donating toys. However, there is an additional element that goes with any MRA ride, that being safety. The MRA toy run usually attracts a crowd of around 600 attendees and safety is imperative for the safe passage of both the riders on the run, as well as other motorists that use the road. This is why the MRA of the ACT practises road craft and road safety on every ride they organise, particularly the toy run.
It is always an honour to be involved in all types of fund raising, but it is heart-warming to see the wonderful generosity of those that attended this year’s 25th annual toy run. I thank the ACT MRA for their ongoing support in the ACT community. I wish them a very merry Christmas and a safe New Year.
On that note I would like also to take this opportunity to say thanks. This is, of course, my first year in the Assembly, along with Ms Porter, Dr Foskey, Mr Seselja and Mr Mulcahy. I hope their year has been as fantastic and as fulfilling as the year I have had. I thank all those involved in my first year as a member in the Assembly for their wonderful support and guidance.
I wish a merry and safe Christmas to all my Labor colleagues and staff, to Dr Foskey, to members of the opposition and members of their staff. May all your Christmases be happy and hopeful, and so, too, to the committee secretariat, especially to the staff of the committees that I am on—Hanna, Ellie, Derek and Linzi. To all the staff here in the Assembly, from the Clerk’s office, the staff of the library and the attendants, thank you for your tireless work in making this Assembly work like a well oiled machine.
Finally, thank you and a merry Christmas to the members of my office, Lauren and Rebecca—and, soon to join us, James. Your hard work and support is always appreciated. I would also like to take the opportunity to wish a merry Christmas to my constituents in Brindabella, and Mark and Nathan from the gallery. Merry Christmas!
Valedictory
DR FOSKEY (Molonglo) (5.24): I am not going to repeat anything anyone else has said. You have already said it and I endorse it. I wish I could be as funny as Ted, and next year I will try.
First of all, I want to thank all the Assembly staff, every one of you from every level. Since I first arrived here I have found you all friendly, helpful and informative. Sometimes you make my day.
I want to thank also other members who have been variously helpful, even when they were not being helpful, and who have taught me that in politics sadly there are few
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .