A lot has happened over the past 365 days; it has and it will remain my privilege to be your advocate and your gatekeeper, maintaining vigilance on both the electorate and the New South Wales Parliament.

I will relentlessly and vigorously apply pressure upon the NSW Government to honour their promises to you and to provide this community with the resources and support you need and deserve.

On November 21 last year I hit the ground running. I wasted no time in filling my calendar with appointments to see anyone who wished to meet me and personally discuss the issues affecting them which they sought my assistance with.

Since opening my office doors I have personally met with thousands of individuals, listening to and discussing with them a wide range of issues they faced. 

Consciously aware that the Orange electorate office is at the far east of the electorate and realising that there has previously been a lack of face-to-face meetings, I have scheduled regular constituent meeting days at both Forbes and Parkes and surrounding areas, allowing the many people in that end of the electorate to meet me without having to travel.

This year I have contributed to the debate in Parliament on a variety of bills, along with various private member and community recognition statements, which recognised a great number of worthy individuals, organisations and institutions.

Additionally, I have to date delivered six questions without notice to the Legislative Assembly and 83 written questions to NSW Parliament.

I am proud to have been given the honour of tabling the 10,000-plus signature petition by Push For Palliative Orange. The significance of this petition was that is represented approximately half of the adult population of Orange, who all called on the NSW Government to establish a dedicated palliative care ward at our hospital, which was sadly abandoned with the old hospital.

The petition was eventually debated in parliament, but disappointingly the Minister for Health ignored the signatories and chose to argue against their request. I set about forming a committee of stakeholders and community representatives to establish a dedicated specialised palliative care/hospice facility in Orange. Those meetings continue on a regular basis and I am confident a solution will eventuate.

Recently, the topic of euthanasia was debated in Parliament. Rightfully so, many people in our community are sensitive to following their personal or religious beliefs and experiences.

I mailed a survey electorate-wide seeking the community’s view on how I should vote when this bill was to be debated. I was overwhelmed with the several thousand responses to the survey: 81 per cent of you instructed me to vote in favour of the bill, which I was determined to do as your voice. Unfortunately, the bill was voted down in the Legislative Council, effectively ending its chance of being debated and divided on in the Legislative Assembly.

I will remain a steward over this electorate whilst ever you see fit to elect me as your representative. I take nothing for granted and I will serve you with total commitment, giving 100 per cent - you can bank on it. I’ll let you determine the value of that.

Thank you for your trust and I look forward to reporting on the next 12 months.