Page 1475 - Week 04 - Thursday, 26 March 2009

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shores of Lake Tuggeranong. My wife and I had the opportunity to go and see them in action on Sunday afternoon. We also had a go at sailing. I have never sailed before; we did very well not to capsize in the end, and that was the great achievement. We were very pleased to be able to see the great work that Pat and the team do there at Tuggeranong. It is something that needs to be commended. It is a fantastic community organisation.

I understand that in May we will see the Special Olympics Invitational State Regatta held on Lake Tuggeranong, with special Olympic sailors from throughout Australia invited to participate. The event will showcase sailing in the ACT and will highlight the work of Sailability ACT. The regatta forms part of the invitational state games for special Olympic athletes hosted by Special Olympics ACT and will be used to provide experience for sailors as they train for the Special Olympics Summer Games to be held in Greece in 2011.

I would just like to again congratulate people for the wonderful work done by Sailability, particularly here in the ACT.

I would like to briefly mention that earlier this month, along with a number of Assembly colleagues, I was delighted to attend a service celebrating 30 years of the operation of Calvary Public Hospital and the services provided by the Sisters of the Little Company of Mary. I understand that a number of colleagues—Mr Smyth, Mrs Dunne, Mr Doszpot and Ms Burch—were also there. It was good to see the Assembly well represented.

The Order of the Little Company of Mary, founded by Mary Potter in 1877, is based on values as relevant today as they were over a hundred years ago: hospitality, healing, stewardship and respect. The service held in the Calvary hospital chapel, led by Archbishop Mark Coleridge, Archbishop of Canberra and Goulburn, was a celebration of work conducted over the past 30 years by Calvary staff and also a reconfirmation of Mary Potter’s values.

Calvary hospital and the Sisters of the Little Company of Mary play a vital role in the health of ACT residents and residents from surrounding areas. Since the opening of the public hospital in 1979, we have seen an increased demand for a range of medical services, and Calvary Health Care has expanded to meet these changing needs. In addition to the public hospital, the services provided by Calvary Health Care now include a private hospital opened in 1987; Calvary clinic, opened in 1997; an older persons unit opened in 2007; and Clare Holland House, built on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin. With over 1,000 staff, Calvary Health Care and Calvary Public Hospital are an integral part of the ACT.

I would like to take the opportunity to thank the CEO of Calvary Health Care, Dr Deborah Cole, and her entire team for the continuing provision of health care for ACT residents and wish them all the best as they continue this for many years to come.

National Youth Week

MR COE (Ginninderra) (5.41): Next week is National Youth Week. From 28 March to 5 April, there will be a series of activities celebrating youth. There will also be a


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