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Legislative Assembly 3679 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Tuesday 25 June 2002 ______ Mr Speaker (The Hon. John Henry Murray) took the chair at 2.15 p.m. Mr Speaker offered the Prayer. ASSENT TO BILLS Assent to the following bills reported: Compensation Court Repeal Bill Crimes Amendment (Bushfires) Bill Legal Profession Amendment (National Competition Policy Review) Bill Financial Services Reform (Consequential Amendments) Bill Justices of the Peace Bill Licensing and Registration (Uniform Procedures) Bill Liquor Amendment (Special Events Hotel Trading) Bill Optometrists Bill Local Government Amendment (Enforcement of Parking and Related Offences) Bill Industrial Relations Amendment (Unfair Contracts) Bill Pastoral and Agricultural Crimes Legislation Amendment Bill Bail Amendment (Repeat Offenders) Bill GUNDAGAI FLOOD SESQUICENTENARY Ministerial Statement Mr CARR (Maroubra—Premier, Minister for the Arts, and Minister for Citizenship) [2.18 p.m.]: Gundagai sits astride Mount Parnassus, high above the Murrumbidgee. It has all the colonial charm of a nineteenth-century inland town, but if you delve into the history you will quickly discover that the present town is not the original settlement. That town was swept away by a terrible whim of nature, a flood that killed one- third of the town's inhabitants and destroyed 71 buildings. I heard that fascinating story on Sunday morning on Malcolm T. Elliott's program. Malcolm interviewed Gundagai Tourism and Travel Centre manager and local historian, Mrs Marie Lindley. She claims the flood was Australia's worst natural disaster: 89 of the town's 250 people died, 27 more than were killed by Cyclone Tracy in 1974, which is claimed by many to be Australia's worst natural disaster. Mrs Lindley's husband is a direct descendant of a man who was away on business in Yass when the flood hit, but whose wife and children, sadly, perished. The flood disaster happened 150 years ago today; it is an anniversary that we solemnly remember in this House. We remember, too, the humanity of the local Aborigines who spent that awful night rescuing survivors. We particularly honour the heroism of the local Aborigine Yarri of the Wiradjuri people and his mate Jackie, who saved more than 40 people using a simple bark canoe. Yarri, who died in 1880, was rightly honoured by the townsfolk as a hero. I am pleased to say that a marble headstone was recently erected in his memory by the local Aboriginal land council. But that was not the first part the local Wiradjuri people played in this tragic story. When the colonial authorities laid out the town plan in 1838 the indigenous people, with their ancient knowledge of the land, warned that the site would be risky. Yet the settlers planned a village on the low- lying river flats of the Murrumbidgee, and paid a woeful price for their gullibility. This month the flood is being commemorated by the people of Gundagai. Commemorations started on the 7 to 10 June long weekend when about 2,000 people gathered in the town, including descendants of flood survivors and members of the local Aboriginal community. A book on the infamous flood was launched. A commemorative candlelight service will be held tomorrow night. All the threads of the Australian story are here in this tale: the original people of this country and their love and knowledge of the land; the courageous, sometimes foolhardy, white settlers; the possibility of reconciliation long before the term was invented; and the harshness of this land and the respect we must learn to have for it. Above all, today is an occasion to remember those souls lost to the darkness and confusion of the surging flood waters, to remember and commend them to a peaceful rest. Ms HODGKINSON (Burrinjuck) [2.21 p.m.]: The past 150 years have been remarkable for the township of Gundagai. There have been many highs and many lows for the town. While I am talking about a 3680 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 25 June 2002 flood, I should say that we could certainly use another couple of inches of rain. The amount we had last week was just not enough. This week Gundagai celebrates 150 years since the great flood. On the June long weekend I had the great honour of joining with the former member for Burrinjuck, Terry Sheahan, to witness a terrific play, Yarri of the Wiradjuri, that was performed at Gundagai High School. The play highlighted the importance of the Aboriginal community to the Gundagai area. Reconciliation has been well on the way in Gundagai in the 150 years since Yarri rescued 40 white settlers with his bark canoe, as the Premier said. Only recently has it become known that Yarri of the Wiradjuri had an assistant named Jackie, who also took part in the rescue of many white people. The original settlement of Gundagai was on the flats of the Murrumbidgee River between what the Aboriginal community described as a mother and a daughter, two arms that stretched around the area. In the early years of settlement the floods would come six inches to a foot into houses but the residents did not believe their lives would be at risk because even with a higher flood the women and children could resort to lofts or attics. The Aboriginal women warned the white women about the great flood that eventually resulted when the mother and the daughter river joined together and swept away the whole town. That was when Yarri of the Wiradjuri saved 40 individuals. After the flood the site of Gundagai was moved to the mountains of Parnassus and Kimo. Since then Gundagai has enjoyed good and steady agricultural growth. It lies in the heart of my electorate of Burrinjuck. As the local member I am very proud to represent the township of Gundagai. I congratulate the local community on celebrating its sesquicentenary for the entire month of June. Bob Gilholme and other members of the Gundagai Advancement Corporation have put enormous work into the celebration. I wish them all the very best of luck. BILLS UNPROCLAIMED Mr SPEAKER: Pursuant to standing orders I table a list of legislation unproclaimed 90 days after assent as at 25 June 2002. VARIATIONS OF PAYMENTS ESTIMATES AND APPROPRIATIONS 2001-02 Mr Aquilina tabled two variations of the receipts and payments estimates and appropriations for 2001- 2002, under section 26 of the Public Finance and Audit Act 1983, arising from the provision by the Commonwealth of specific purpose payments in excess of the amounts included in the State's receipts and payments estimates. PETITIONS North Head Quarantine Station Petition praying that the head lease proposal for North Head Quarantine Station be opposed, received from Mr Barr. Royal National Park Rusa Deer Petition praying that the House ensure that culling of Rusa deer in the Royal National Park cease, received from Mr O'Farrell. Lake Munmorah State Recreation Area Petition praying that the northern entrance to the Lake Munmorah State Recreation Area remain open, received from Mr Orkopoulos. Freedom of Religion Petitions praying that the House retain the existing exemptions applying to religious bodies in the Anti- Discrimination Act, received from Mr Piccoli and Mr Tink. Manly JetCat Services Petition seeking reversal of the decision by Sydney Ferries to stop JetCat services to Manly at 7.00 p.m., received from Mr Barr. 25 June 2002 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 3681 Manly Traffic Arrangements Petition requesting urgent improvements to the Seaforth roundabout at the top of Sydney Road, Manly, received from Mr Barr. Northern Beaches Traffic Arrangements Petition requesting an additional lane from Manly Road, Balgowlah, to Ourimbah Road, Mosman, including the widening of the Spit Bridge, received from Mr Barr. Corrimal Traffic Arrangements Petition praying that the pedestrian traffic signals on the Princes Highway at Corrimal be replaced by traffic and pedestrian signals at the intersection of the Princes Highway and Collins Street, Corrimal, received from Mr Campbell. Lane Cove Tunnel Works Petition praying that the House initiate a review of Lane Cove tunnel works, received from Mr Collins. Cammeray Traffic Arrangements Petition praying that pedestrian traffic signals be installed at Raleigh Plaza on Miller Street, Cammeray, and that the 1997 traffic study be implemented, received from Mr Collins. John Fisher Park Petition praying that the Government support the rectification of grass surfaces at John Fisher Park, Curl Curl, and opposes any proposal to hard surface the Crown land portion of the park and Abbott Road land, received from Mr Barr. Lake Burrinjuck Water Level Petition asking that the Department of Land and Water Conservation be instructed to maintain the level of water in Lake Burrinjuck at a minimum of 45 per cent, received from Ms Hodgkinson. Liverpool Electorate Natural Gas Infrastructure Petition praying that residents of Cartwright have access to natural gas infrastructure, received from Mr Lynch. Beat Policing Petition calling on the Government to focus policing strategies and resources on beat policing, received from Mr Debnam. Casino Policing Petition requesting increased police numbers at Casino and that the police station be manned 24 hours per day, received from Mr George. Malabar Policing Petition praying that the House note the concern of Malabar residents at the closure of Malabar Police Station and praying that the station be reopened and staffed by locally based and led police, received from Mr Tink. Wentworthville Police Station Petition asking that any move to scale back or close Wentworthville Police Station be opposed, received from Mr Tink. 3682 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 25 June 2002 PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE Report Mr Tripodi, as Chairman, tabled the report entitled "Inquiry into Court Waiting Times", dated June 2002. Ordered to be printed. QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE _________ TAMWORTH PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENT MENINGOCOCCAL DISEASE Mr BROGDEN: My question without notice is to the Minister for Health.
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