Tuesday, 14 May 2024

 Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (14:30): I would like to take a moment to acknowledge our Victorian Senior of the Year 2023 Mr Andrew Suggett. Mr Suggett served the Warrnambool community for many years through his membership of Rotary, but faced with a life-changing diagnosis of Parkinson’s in 2000, Andrew maintained his infectiously positive outlook on life and resolved not only to do everything he could to improve his own quality of life but to do what he could to help others. Mr Suggett was a dedicated leader of the Warrnambool Parkinson’s Support Group since 2009, fostering a warm and inclusive environment for community members to come and share their experiences of and feelings about a Parkinson’s diagnosis. He was also involved in numerous initiatives to help people with Parkinson’s stay active, connected and involved in their community. I had the pleasure of meeting Mr Suggett at last year’s Victorian Senior of the Year Awards. His whole family came with him to celebrate him and were clearly and rightly so very proud of his dedication and generosity towards their community.

Sadly, Mr Suggett passed away recently, and I would like to pass my condolences on to his wife Betty, his family and all who knew him. His was a life well lived in the service of others, and he was an example to us all.