Valedictories
28/11/2013
The Hon. K.L. VINCENT (17:01): Just briefly, or as briefly as I can put it, I would like to put on the record my thanks on behalf of Dignity for Disability for all those who have worked with us throughout the year. I start by congratulating the Hon. Mrs Zollo on her retirement. As your Labor colleague Steph Key often says, ‘Happy trails!’ Steph is well renowned for signing her emails with that little saying, and I always think it is a nice way to wish someone well.
I obviously begin by thanking my incredible staff. The honourable minister calls hers rays of sunshine, but I do not think there is a sun big enough to encompass the brightness that my staff give off: Anna, Dave, Cathi and Lesley (our trainee, who is a new addition to the team but who has already put in the hard yakka and I think is already quite well versed in my manifesto and my world view, which is an amazing achievement in the short time she has been with us), my previous trainee, Nicole, our casual staff, Kristi and Amy (I hope I am not forgetting anyone), for not just their amazing hard work and the long hours that they put in, but their tolerance of me in all my varying moods that we can sometimes experience in this place.
Of course, I thank all the supporters of Dignity for Disability throughout the year. It is a good time for me to reflect on this, because it has actually just occurred to me that I am halfway through my term, which is terrifying—and not just terrifying to me, if the look on the Hon. Mr Hunter’s face is anything to go by. My 20s are fast slipping away, but do not feel sad, because I was just about to say that I could not actually think of a better way to be spending them.
I would like to thank all those who have supported us throughout the year and for the last four years, not just in introducing and debating legislation, but actually stopping the passing of legislation and policies that could have an adverse impact, particularly on people with disabilities. It is a hard slog, but one that I feel very privileged to be a part of. Again, I could not imagine a better place to be at this point in my life, and probably at many other points also.
Having said that, I put on the record my additional thanks to the amazing chamber staff, Todd and Mario, who are constantly picking up things that I drop and putting up with me in all of my moods; you, of course, Mr President; and Hansard. I do not know how they have not retired or gone on WorkCover yet, but it is just four more years, we are halfway there, hang in there, thank you very much. Thanks to Guy and Leslie, particularly Guy, who has the great misfortune of sitting closest to the door that I use to exit the chamber, so again, he has become my involuntary confidante as I often storm out of this place in a mood or am musing some issue that we are debating. He is often party to my thoughts on certain issues, so thank you for your patience, Guy; and, of course, our Clerk and Black Rod for their hard work.
At this point I would like to put on the record my thanks to party president, Rick Neagle, and in particular our candidates in the next election. They are an amazing bunch of people. I look forward to returning to this place next year. As honourable members have pointed out it is certainly not much of a break that we will be getting. We will certainly be consulting widely, hearing about the issues that are important to South Australians, and addressing those during the break and in the election campaign, but I do want to say that I look forward to returning to this place, and hopefully with a teammate so that we can expand the scope of our work even more.
With those brief words, I put on the record my thanks to everyone who has been involved in supporting me in any way throughout the year, whether it is feeding and watering me or generally supporting and putting up with me. I wish you all a merry Christmas and again thank you for your support and participation.
