House debates

Tuesday, 14 November 2023

Statements by Members

Watts, Mr Graham, Duggan, Mr Timothy, OAM, Bolton, Mr Daniel

1:46 pm

Photo of Luke GoslingLuke Gosling (Solomon, Australian Labor Party) Share this | | Hansard source

I want to talk about three incredible Territorians who I've spent time with in the last three days. On Sunday I was privileged to attend a kiap reunion. As honourable members may remember, these were the Commonwealth patrol officers in Papua New Guinea prior to independence. They made a wonderful contribution to Papua New Guinea and to relations there, and they keep those connections to this very day. We're seeking to establish a memorial to the over 80 kiaps who didn't come back from that service. To Graham Watts—a kiap from Darwin—thanks, mate.

Timmy Duggan is the first person from the Northern Territory to play in the National Basketball League. He set up a charity called Hoops 4 Health. He now employs eight coaches and 20 volunteer coaches, working with around 10,000 young First Nations people across the NT, including in remote communities. In fact, last night in Parliament House, he won the National Rural and Remote Health Award for Dedication to Health in a Remote Location for the work that he's doing with young people in the Territory through basketball.

Finally, the third Territorian is Daniel Bolton. He flies a Mallard, which is a seaplane, up in the Northern Territory. He's recently written a book that's illustrated by his dad, Greg. It's a fantastic book. It was great of the Prime Minister to launch it for Daniel in the parliament today.