Thank-you to our SES superstar, Suzanne Connors

Speech presented by Member for Whitsunday Amanda Camm MP to the Queensland Parliament on March 14, 2023.

Tonight I want to thank Suzanne Connors not only on behalf of my local constituency of Proserpine, the greater Whitsunday region and the Mackay Isaac Whitsunday disaster management region but also on behalf of Queenslanders.

Sue has been a member of the SES for 30 years and group leader of Proserpine for 15 years, and she is most recognised across this state as a peer support worker in times of disaster. She has received many commendations from the SES as well as our Citizen of the Year award last year.

Sue has responded to major events including tropical cyclones Debbie, Marcia, Dillon, Ida, Yasi, Ului, Larry, Rockhampton floods, Hamilton Island plane crashes and numerous land searches across our state.

SES member Sue Connors is congratulated on her service to community.

Being a relatively small SES group, Sue has been involved every step of the way in every local event and her 30 years of dedication along with her husband and her children has not gone unnoticed.

Member for Whitsunday Amanda Camm MP with The Just Saying Project’s Fallon Drewett at International Women’s Day celebrations in Mackay.

We were pleased to celebrate with Sue a few weeks ago, but as a peer support officer she has provided support that is hard to put into words in terms of how much it is valued and the people she has touched across Queensland, and we thank her for her service.

Recognising Karen Jacobsen and Zonta

I also want to acknowledge as part of International Women's Day celebrations across Mackay and the Whitsundays the Zonta Club of Mackay and in particular Karen Jacobsen, who was the guest speaker and who will launch next month Misogyny Opus.

I know that many members of this House who may have heard a misogyny speech once or twice will really appreciate the launch that will happen in Mackay. I certainly will be attending and look forward to that event.

I also thank Zonta Whitsundays for its contribution to International Women's Day across the Whitsundays. It does so much in our community.

Hats off to JSP’s Fallon Drewett

I also thank Fallon from The Just Saying Project who hosted the women's awards night in Mackay. Women's intuition is a powerful force of connection. It helps us find joy, strength and purpose and Fallon every day across our Mackay community instils that in women.

And finally, a nod to all women in Queensland Parliament

I also want to take this opportunity to recognise the contribution of those opposite today in the House regarding International Women's Day.

I am used to the Attorney-General and the same speech that comes out every third or fourth week in criticising the opposition of LNP women, but the hypocrisy of members of this House who speak about International Women's Day and yet criticise the women who serve this state on this side of the House.

I expect that from some opposite, but I did not expect that from the member for Jordan today. I did not expect that when I heard some of those words.

While we may fit in a maxi taxi, we actually enjoy spending time together as women from the LNP. We are proud conservative women and we will not be criticised by those opposite.