Page 797 - Week 02 - Thursday, 25 February 2010
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cycling regime help build the confidence to continue a safe and effective exercise regime and exercise independently. In addition to exercise training, participants receive instruction in rider safety and bike maintenance. The philosophy behind this program is combining sustainable transport and fitness.
There is much literature that shows healthier employees improve productivity and reduce sick days. Ideally, the option of cycling or walking to work should be an attractive option to more Canberrans. There are a lot of people who are actively working on this, and Healthy Weight Week is an opportunity to encourage and support these ideas.
Mr Lou Westende
MR DOSZPOT (Brindabella) (5.00): I have given quite a number of adjournment speeches since being elected in 2008 and almost all of these have been about organisations or individuals I have come across in one of my shadow portfolio areas. Today I would like to deviate somewhat from my usual format and share with you, Madam Assistant Speaker, and our colleagues in the Assembly, a book that I recently come across, not by a blockbusting author on the current best seller list but a local author by the name of Doug Hurst. The book is called Fulfilment & Success: the story of Lou Westende—a migrant.
The very modest title and unpretentious presentation of the book, however, belie the content. It is a story that deserves to be known better by our community. It is a story of rags to riches, of the power of positive thinking and a never-say-die attitude. It is an inspirational story of an ordinary Canberran, a child of the Depression, a migrant who developed a successful business, contributed to our community in many ways but particularly through Rotary and who ended up in the ACT Legislative Assembly in 1992.
I have known Lou Westende since 1974 but only from a distance, as a business colleague and at times a competitor. But over the years I have followed his progress and, in many ways career-wise, I have almost followed in his footsteps, including my election to this place. And it is the ACT Assembly aspects of Mr Westende’s career that I would like to mention here today. I quote from his inaugural speech in 1992:
I feel very honoured and privileged to be standing here today as a member of the ACT Legislative Assembly; but, more importantly, I am very conscious of the responsibilities that this honour and privilege entails. It is a responsibility that is indeed entrusted to all members of this Assembly by those who have placed us here—the people of the ACT—and we must never lose sight of this.
It is on this important matter of the responsibility of the Assembly in determining the future direction of the ACT that I wish to focus my maiden speech. The Oxford Dictionary defines the word “responsible” as liable to be called to account, answerable, capable of rational conduct, and so on. They are strong words. But, clearly, to be responsible is to be strong, and what the ACT needs right now is strength in every direction. It needs strong leadership from government and it needs a firm and strong commitment by every member of the community. We must all build the future together.
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