Thursday 29 September 2011

Hansard of the Legislative Council

ADJOURNMENT

Mr PARKINSON (Hobart - Leader of Government Business in the Legislative Council) - Madam President, I move -

That the Council at its rising adjourn until 11 a.m. on Friday 21 October 2011.

This is for the purpose of a quorum call.

Motion agreed to.

Mr PARKINSON (Hobart - Leader of Government Business in the Legislative Council) - Madam President, I move -

That the Council do now adjourn.

ADJOURNMENT SPEECH

LFC GRAND FINAL WIN

Mr FINCH (Rosevears) - Madam President, I could not really let the moment pass without referring to the efforts by the Launceston Football Club in last weekend's grand final. I did want to make mention that it is a great moment in the history of the Launceston Football Club. A lot of people do not realise that the history of the club goes back to 1875. It has been part of the fabric of the Tasmanian community in all of those years and I think we have come to the Blue's perfect day. They are not my words, those are the words in the article in the Mercury headed, 'Giant awakens'. We are developing this statewide league in Tasmania. Through quite a process of turmoil, the change has been made and I would suggest that the first team to really settle into the competition that we have now, has been Launceston. We come to a situation where on this perfect day we have won the seniors and the colts flag, our midfielder, Tim Bristow, has won the Tassie Medal, Nathan O'Donoghue won the Baldock Medal as the grand final's best afield, Raelene Giblin won the volunteer of the year and even the draw of the business card, at lunch, was won by a Launceston supporter, Richard Vimpany.

It was a fantastic day. I think the only other period in our history that was better was from 1933 to about 1938. In a period of six years we won five State finals. Six NTFL finals.

Mr Hall - Depressing years.

Mr FINCH - Not depressing to the Launceston Football Club, let me tell you. Shaun Young, who is the General Manager of the State League, found that he had some complimentary things to say about Launceston. He found the grand final was very competitive, very exciting, a great day at Aurora in terms of atmosphere and, of course, the weather was fantastic. I suppose it is really a credit on the day to the organisation of AFL Tasmania who did a great job.

I might suggest to members of the Chamber who are football supporters that the words of our President might ring in their ears during the coming season because Launceston will be going for back-to-back premierships. Most of our list is staying on, the coach is staying on. We have colts who have enjoyed success and who are very much a part of the club and they will be providing the pathway for our juniors and we have a great junior program.

Ms Forrest - The higher you get the further you fall.

Mr FINCH - I did want to mention it. I do not want to crow about it. It is a credit to those organisers, the teams, the players and all involved in the Launceston Football Club and I am sure you would agree with that.