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Tuesday, 8 May 2012
Page: 2730

Senator FIERRAVANTI-WELLS (New South Wales) (14:25): I too rise to pay tribute to our late colleague, Senator Judith Adams. I was part of the class of 2004, which various colleagues have spoken about today. Whilst most of my colleagues of the class of 2004 started on 1 July 2005, I filled a vacancy earlier than that and so it fell to me to convene the gatherings of the class of 2004. I must say that we had some very good gatherings. We have lost some along the way to preselection and there have been various losses at election, but Judith's passing remains our saddest loss.

In her maiden speech, as colleagues have referred to, she spoke about the challenge of the Howard government's workforce participation policy to keep mature age, experienced people in the workplace. Of course, she proudly spoke as the second oldest woman to have entered the Senate. The oldest woman to have entered the Senate was also a Western Australian, and Judith reminded us of that. As shadow minister for ageing, can I pay tribute to a senior Australian who, as Senator Johnston said, packed a lot into a lifetime.

As Senator Milne and other colleagues have mentioned, she talked about life experience and the fact that it cannot be bought or traded. She certainly did use her life experiences very well. When one looks at the diversity of that—general nursing, maternity and midwifery, certificates, post-basic diploma in operating theatre nursing, being a justice of the peace, a farmer and a rural health consultant—she certainly used her life experience. Her life experience gave her a great grounding for her work in this place and most especially in the community affairs committee. I think Senator Moore mentioned comments about nurses. Some of the stories Judith told us about life in the operating theatre and some of the things that happened in operating theatres she had been in certainly raised a few eyebrows, but we will not go there. Her passion for rural health mattered especially at estimates. Senator Moore, maybe they will give the PATS memorial award through community affairs. I think I will leave it to you to raise that at our next estimates.

Can I place on record my deep appreci­ation for her efforts in the Health and Ageing portfolio. As the shadow responsible for that portfolio here in the Senate, I know that Judith was invaluable in her contribution, in the work that she did and the various tasks that she willingly took up, particularly her work on the Senate committees. I know that I speak for the other shadows in this portfolio—Mr Dutton, Mr Laming and Dr Southcott—in placing our appreciation for her efforts on the record. At the February estimates we missed her and we will miss her very, very much in the future.

On a personal note, I want to place on record how grateful I and most especially my husband, John, were and are to Judith for her guidance and support when in 2009 my husband was diagnosed with cancer. I remember one night, sitting at Leigh's, she sat with John and explained what was to come. She shared with him how she had dealt with the challenges in her battle with cancer. I know how valuable this was to my husband. During his radiotherapy she wrote to him. She always asked me about him. Maybe she had a soft spot because he was a former naval officer. I think that is probably what it was. She always took the opportunity to take him aside. In the gatherings when my husband on various occasions has come down to Canberra she always took him aside and wanted to know how he was and how he was coping and offered him words of comfort despite her own ongoing battle with demon cancer. This was so typical of Judith's stoic character, her determination to take adversity within her stride.

Senator Parry spoke of her sense of humour. An example of this was her wearing olive green on the day we debated the tobacco legislation. Of course, colleagues would recall that the olive industry was up in arms against Minister Roxon's use of olive green as the colour for the plain packaging. This was Judith's silent defiance on that day, but it did not go unnoticed. I conclude by offering my condolences to Stuart and Robert and the family. For John and me it was a real honour to be present at the wonderful celebration of her life in Kojonup. Rest in peace, Judith.