Canberrans are endlessly ingenious. On chilly Canberra walks, Monika Mironov was forever stopping to rescue the blanket covering her daughter, Sofia. Sometimes it slipped and sometimes an excited kick sent it towards the wheelchair wheels. Monika decided there had to be a better way. A graphic designer by training, Monika taught herself to sew at night, and spent two years testing designs with families and therapists. The result was Mimi Blankets, colourful blankets that attach securely to wheelchairs, with options for winter warmth and summer sun. More than 2,000 have been sold worldwide. An American dad told Monika that his daughter, who usually managed only 15 minutes of Halloween trick-or-treating in the cold, stayed out for over an hour with her Mimi blanket. They'll be thanking Monika again this Saturday. This month, Monika won two Australian Good Design Awards. The best part, she said, was having Sofia there to celebrate. Sofia, who communicates using an eye-gaze device, even helped choose the colours and patterns. Congratulations to them both.

At Gold Creek School in Nicholls, Dr Tamsyn Terry is helping students learn their own way. Tamsyn is the school's associate principal. Working with University of Canberra researchers, she's helped teachers tailor lessons to students' strengths and interests. It starts with teachers discovering what excites their students then working with them to shape their learning. The project began with 26 teacher ambassadors working with students from pre-school to year 10. Teachers report more engaged students, and three other schools in the ACT and New South Wales are now taking up the approach. Tamsyn has just been named the ACT's 2026 school leader of the year, recognising her work to turn an educational idea into everyday classroom practice. Congratulations, Tamsyn, and everyone at Gold Creek School.

Congratulations to the Canberra Food Co-op, Australia's longest-running food cooperative, which will celebrate 50 years with a dinner on Saturday night. It began in 1976 with ANU students dividing bulk-food orders in Kingston railway station. Half a century later, it's still bringing generations of Canberrans together around affordable food, shared effort and plenty of lentils.

As this is likely to be my last parliamentary speech of 2026, I want to thank the people who kept my electorate and ministerial offices running. They help constituents navigate difficult problems and bring extraordinary dedication to the work. My thanks to Nick Terrell, Tori Barker, Meg Thomas, Chris Davis, Felicity Wilkins, Bronwyn Asquith, Blair Arnold, Pallavi Linton, Kal Slater, Maria Neill, Cullen Savle and Cohen Elliot. Thanks also to our volunteers, particularly Jo Corrigan, Christine Debu and Gerry Lloyd. It's a privilege to work alongside you.