[ASSEMBLY - Wednesday, 31 May 2006] 3365

[ASSEMBLY - Wednesday, 31 May 2006] 3365 I would like to acknowledge the huge role that volunteers play in the running of football and other sports in country WA. Their role is vital to the ongoing success of our country communities and that role should never be underestimated. I would like to especially acknowledge the great role that women, and in particular women’s committees, have played. It has been enormous. I would also like to stress the strong leadership role that the West Australian Country Football League has played, and congratulate the WA Country Football League president, Ken Baxter, and the CEO, Cameron Knapton, who along with the 23-plus country football leagues, have enabled country football to meet its challenges and play its key role. I would like to recognise the great footballers from the Great Northern Football League, including Steve McCann, Kevin Worthington, Kevin Mazzuchelli, Chris Mainwaring, Murray Wrensted, Brad Tunbridge, Jim Sewell, Daniel Chick, Paul Hasleby, Andrew Lockyer, Patrick Ryder, Josh Kennedy and, of course, Kevin Clune, the “Carnamah Kid”. GERALDTON’S CONTRIBUTION TO THE ARTS Statement by Member for Perth MR J.N. HYDE (Perth) [4.53 pm]: I would like to pay tribute to the people of Geraldton who have been involved in the arts. Geraldton has always batted above its weight in the arts. Our greatest writer, Julian Randolph Stow, was born here. There was also Xavier Herbert; great actors such as Ernie Dingo; John Kinsella, who did most of his wonderful writing here in Geraldton; and Nene Gare, who wrote that wonderful novel The Fringe Dwellers. I would like to read a small section from Randolph Stow’s poem Dust. This was written in August after we had had the first really big rains out past Moonyoonooka - Bushwalkers’ Clubs boiled their billies with humility in chimneys where orchids and treesnakes luxuriantly intertwined. A photographer came from The West Australian, and ten teenage reportresses. Teachers of botany overflowed to the garden. Indeed, trains were run from Yalgoo and Oodnadatta. But the neighbours slept behind sealed doors, with feather dusters beside their beds. We have had other great things in Geraldton such as FROTH, Friends of the Town Hall, in the late 1970s and early 1980s, when we stopped the Goths, the Vandals and the coalition from demolishing our beautiful town hall building. On stage here I may have performed in Lock up Your Daughters but I was also in God and The Sea and I went from Geraldton and ended up in New Orleans opera playing a lead spear carrier. Anyone from Geraldton can do it. REGIONAL PARLIAMENT Statement by Member for Serpentine-Jarrahdale MR A.J. SIMPSON (Serpentine-Jarrahdale) [4.55 pm]: I would like to put on the record my support for the regional Parliament. Sometimes I think it is difficult to justify the cost of running our Parliament and I am sure all members would agree that sometimes it seems as though it is less than productive. I know that on top of our usual costs, the regional sitting of Parliament has cost taxpayers even more. However, I think this sitting has not been a total waste. I am a very strong believer in democracy, and giving everyone a chance to have their say is a very important part of the Australian way. We all like to have opinions and some of us like to have our say. Unfortunately, Labor’s one vote, one value legislation is about to decrease people’s ability to see their local member. I am truly disappointed by that outcome. I gave notice today of a motion calling on the Parliament to introduce new technology to help West Australia, particularly regional areas, to lobby the Parliament more effectively through e-petitioning. I hope the government will support my motion and take note of my intent. Finally I would like to thank the people of Geraldton, not only for hosting us but especially for coming out in such strong numbers and participating in a great part of democracy. COUNTRY FOOTBALL Statement by Member for Collie-Wellington MR M.P. MURRAY (Collie-Wellington) [4.56 pm]: Country football has made a valuable contribution, as has already been said today, so I am running second best here. It contributes to the physical and social wellbeing of country towns. I wish to pay tribute today to the volunteers who underpin country football, whether presidents, secretaries, coaches, trainers or team players. This valuable contribution tends to be taken for granted. The mid- west football competition provides a channel for a wide range of young players to progress to higher levels. A fine example, of course, is Chris Mainwaring, the AFL Eagles premiership player. There have been many others. The AFL accepts these players but gives very little back in my view, considering the huge transfer fees .

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