Mrs SALLY QUINNELL (Camden) (18:37): The date 17 March is well known throughout the world, and not just because it is the wedding anniversary of the member for Lismore. On Sunday 17 March 2024, the people of Camden will be celebrating St Patrick's Day. St Patrick's Day became a feast day in the early seventeenth century, so we think we would have just about got it right by now. Some of the celebrations include public parades; festivals; céilí, which is Irish dancing and folk music; wearing green; and displaying shamrocks, symbolising the idea of three gods within one that Saint Patrick taught. That idea of Trinity has prevailed, and I am proud to say that the idea of a shamrock showing three gods as one is still being taught in Catholic schools in Australia to this day. St Patrick's Day is also a day of great joy because, traditionally, it has meant a lifting of lent and restrictions, which has led to it having a somewhat spurious significance of being a day of drinking.

But it is a special day because it really represents how much the people of the world love the Irish, and how much Irish traditions and ideas have spread throughout the world. In Camden, we are very proud that 10 per cent of our population is of Irish descent and that nearly one in three Camdenites is Catholic. St Patrick's Day is a massive day, with festivals happening at Camden Valley Inn and Camden Sports Club. We have a St Patrick's College in Campbelltown that many people from Camden attend. On 20 March they are having their St Patrick's Day feast mass, and they are also commissioning their new principle, Mary Leask. I take this moment to welcome Mary to our community. I had the fantastic opportunity to meet her last weekend. She is a fantastic leader and this is a very exciting opportunity for her.

On 24 November last year, I attended the farewell for St Patrick's previous principal, Sue Lennox. Sue is an amazing educator and had an incredible impact on the students of St Patrick's College. She was an incredible leader and a strong, confident and calm mentor for many of the girls. As I said to Sue on the night, she will never know the impact that she has had on the many girls and young ladies who attended St Patrick's. I take this moment to thank Sue for what she has done for the young women in Camden who attended St Patrick's under her patronage, not only as the member for Camden but also as the mother of two daughters who grew and blossomed under her tutelage. Mary Leask will have very big shoes to fill, but I am sure she is ready for the job and raring to go. She seems extremely keen and we are excited to see what she has to offer.

Wearing green is a very simple way to celebrate St Patrick's Day. Many people in Camden will attend mass on Sunday not only because it is the fourth Sunday of lent but also because it is a great opportunity to talk about all the wonderful things St Patrick did. He was an Englishman who brought religion to Ireland and neither the English nor the Irish ever let anyone forget that. It is important to think about the amazing things that are happening in our communities to celebrate the heritage that comes with us. I will now attempt to speak Gaelic. I apologise to everyone who speaks Gaelic, and if I get it wrong a lovely lady named Aileen from Camden South will take the blame. I wish everyone in the House and across Camden lá fhéile pádraig sona daoibh go léir. Happy St Patrick's Day, everyone.

The SPEAKER: Right back at you!