HON SUE ELLERY (South Metropolitan — Leader of the House) [ 2.00 pm ] — without notice: I move —
That this house expresses its deep regret at the death of Hon Winifred Piesse, a former member of the Legislative Council for Lower Central Province; and places on record its appreciation for her long public service, and tenders its profound sympathy to members of her family in their bereavement.
[speeches and comments of various members]
HON ALISON XAMON (North Metropolitan) [ 2.13 pm ]: I rise on behalf of the Greens to also support this motion and offer my sincerest condolences to the family and the friends of Winifred Piesse. Winifred Piesse sounds like a woman I very much would like to have met. I have been very impressed to learn more about Winifred Piesse, her contribution to her family and her community and, of course, her contributions in this place.
It is difficult for anybody to be left widowed, but even more so to have three children at a time when there were not the sorts of social services and supports that are more readily available now. Despite this, Winifred Piesse went on to manage farms, to be enrolled as a local councillor and to contribute enormously within her community. She sounds as though she was a woman who was formidable and determined.
I particularly want to note some of the issues that Winifred Piesse appeared to focus on. I note that Winifred Piesse trained as a nurse and was particularly concerned about the issues of smoking, the position of young people within society, and breast cancer — an issue that has affected, I suspect, a number of people in this place and certainly many people within the community. I note that Winifred Piesse at one point recounted that one of her fondest memories of her time in Parliament was when, after making a plea for finance and a strategy to combat breast cancer, members from both sides of the house and staff went to her office and thanked her for raising the issue. Based on what I am hearing about the sort of character she was, it sounds as though she came into this place with a great deal of integrity and compassion and tried to ensure that these sorts of issues, which can affect everyone, were given voice.
I acknowledge that, as a woman, she has a very proud place in the history of the National Country Party, and I look forward to the contributions from her future colleagues — I was trying to think how to frame that — to hear more about that. I also note that Winifred Piesse went on to contribute so much within her own community after her time in Parliament.
I agree that we should all be so lucky to leave such a wonderful footprint in our lives. We get only one life — at least I believe that — and, as such, it feels as though Winifred Piesse really made her mark as a family member, a community member and a woman in this place. I, too, again wish to offer my sincere condolences to Winifred Piesse’s family and friends. I am sure that they can take great pride in knowing that they come from such formidable stock and have known such a wonderful woman.
[speeches and comments of various members]
THE PRESIDENT (Hon Kate Doust) :
I ask members to now rise and stand in your places to indicate your support for the motion, and to observe one minute’s silence in memory of the late Winifred Piesse, our esteemed former member of this Council.
Question passed; members and officers standing as a mark of respect.
The PRESIDENT : I advise that in accordance with our custom and practice, a copy of the Hansard transcript of this condolence motion will be forwarded to Winifred Piesse’s family.