Debates Day 1 - Tuesday 23 May 1995
Parliamentary Record 11
Debates for 7th Assembly 1994 - 1997; ParliamentNT; Parliamentary Record; 7th Assembly 1994 - 1997
1995-05-23
Made available by the Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory
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Debates
Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory
Darwin
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Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory
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DEBATES - Tuesday 23 May 1995 Mrs PADGHAM-PURICH: Did you have a big hat and boots? Mr Stone: Yes. Mrs PADGHAM-PURICH: Mr Speaker, the honourable Treasurer mentioned, among other items of interest in the budget, that $240 000 has been allocated to Northern Territory Rural College to facilitate re-accreditation of a certificate in lands, parks and wildlife management courses. I am very interested to hear that because I understand that the rural college suffered a loss of $752 000 in its overall budget. I do not know how the management will carry on. No doubt it will, albeit under some financial duress. With Northern Territory Rural College becoming increasingly successful, I believe it will get through the year despite that cut, but only just. The member for Katherine will have to speak up more strongly on its behalf next year. Another item of interest is the $118 000 allocated for the development of a conservation plan of management and rehabilitation and maintenance works at Fannie Bay Gaol. I was in attendance recently when the Minister for Correctional Services opened old Fannie Bay Gaol yet again. I do not know how many openings and re-openings I have been to there ... Mr Stone: I have only been to one opening. Mrs PADGHAM-PURICH: I have been to more than one. The person in charge of the museum rabbited on rather too much at that function. The minister was the person who was supposed to be opening the place and he should have been in the limelight, not the person in charge of the museum. I have no objection to places and items of interest being restored to their previous state but, when first you arrive at the old jail, one of the first things you notice is the fence around it. If my memory serves me correctly, the previous fence was made of corrugated iron. It was painted green and had barbed wire along the top. The fence there now is constructed from some other building material. It has been painted cream and the barbed wire is inside. That is one of the little items that other people with memories as long as mine will recall. I have not made a close examination of the entire jail, but I hope more attention will be given to details like that. Mr Reed: Did the gallows work? Mrs PADGHAM-PURICH: I would not mind volunteering my services if they are returned to working order, and you have the law changed. I am very interested in the restoration of historical places like this and I hope the museum will continue with the work and that a more realistic atmosphere will be created through the introduction of appropriate artefacts. For example, in the kitchen area, cooking utensils and old-time stoves could be provided. I have no intimate personal experience of being a guest of His or Her Majesty at the jail but, from talking with old-timers who have been here longer than I have, old Fannie Bay Gaol could become a very interesting place to visit if it is restored 3571