Page 2469 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 6 August 2013
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Canberra at the end of 1988. Back then, Lake Tuggeranong was empty, and the Tuggeranong Hyperdome had only just opened. Lanyon valley was unpopulated and you took a packed lunch to go to Tharwa. Now it is a very different story. Suburbia reaches right up to the edges of Lanyon Homestead, and Tharwa seems just down the road—well, almost.
1988 was a fascinating time to arrive in Canberra because it was also the year of self-government in the ACT. I watched on during this time with interest and some amusement at the campaigns of the “no self-government” parties, which then got into government, as well as other entertaining parties such as the Sun-Ripened Warm Tomato Party and the Party! Party! Party! Party. It made for an interesting introduction to the capital.
Prior to coming to Canberra, I had lived in most other states and territories of Australia, as well as some overseas locations. We moved a lot when I was a child because my father was serving our country as a member of the Australian Defence Force. But of all the places I have lived, I chose to stay here in Canberra and bring up my family.
My husband, Peter, and I have five grown children between us, all now with their own families living in Brindabella, and proud to call Canberra our home. My mail has been delivered to Oxley, Gowrie, Chisholm and now Fadden. So I have lived solely in the electorate of Brindabella my entire time since moving to the ACT.
This is also well and truly home to my husband, Peter, who was born and bred in Canberra. His parents came to Australia from Europe after World War II as refugees and were given the option of working on a pineapple farm in Queensland or in the nation’s capital as kitchen staff, and this is where they ended up. Once they arrived here, they realised that Canberra in the late 1940s was quite a different place to the capital cities they had known in Europe.
My parents, Oxley and Joan Gordon-Brown, taught me about hard work, living within your means, caring for others, giving back to the community and that you should never be afraid of trying something new. My parents are here today to see their youngest child sworn in to the ACT Legislative Assembly. My parents were strong believers in education as a way to get ahead in life. In following this lead, I completed my undergraduate degree at the ANU, like many of my colleagues here. I later went on to complete a masters degree.
Being brought up by a working mother meant working outside the home was second nature to me. While this was reasonably commonplace amongst women of my era, there is no question that I have been subjected to sexism in the workplace in my time. This has done nothing but spur me on to try to achieve more and ensure that I am the best person for the job.
I am very, very proud of my beautiful children, Catherine and Alex, and their partners; of my stepchildren, Damien, Shane and Amanda, and their partners; and of my collection of nine grandchildren, for whom I want to ensure that Canberra remains
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