Mr   GAFFNEY   (Mersey)   -   Mr  President,   very   rarely   do   I   stand   in   this   place   and   right   from   the   start   of   my   speech   realise   that   whatever   I   say   -   the   words   and   phrases   I   put   together   - will   be   largely   inadequate.   Very   rarely   in   this   place   do   I   stand   wishing   that   I   and   other   members   of   parliament   in   both   Chambers   do   not   need   to   speak   these   words,   wishing   so   very   much,   like   many   other   Tasmanians   and   mainland   Australians,   that   the   tragic   event   which   caused   the   death   of   six   children   and   injured   three   of   their   mates   did   not   occur.   I   suspect   that   every   member   who   speaks   here   today   does   so   with   a   heavy   heart,   a   dry   throat,   moist   eyes   and a   profound   sadness.   A   parent's   and   a   community's   worst   nightmare   is   when   a   child   is   hurt,   let alone   when   nine   children   are   hurt   and   six   of   those   die.   There   are   no   words   to   express   or   capture   the   feelings   of   the   parents,   the   families,   close   friends,   and   school   staff   who   will   always   remember   16  December  2021.   Nor   will   the   bystanders,   first   responders,   school   personnel and hospital staff ever forget that day.

A   day   which   should   have   been   one   of   joy   and   excitement   was   actually   one   of   trauma   and   tragedy.   I   have   two   vivid   memories   of   where   I   was   when   I   received   news   of   two   other   previous   tragedies   -   that   is   Port  Arthur   and   New   York   -   and   now   I   have   a   third   memory   which will   last.   A   phone   call   from   the   Premier's   staff   informing   me   of   the   Hillcrest   situation   as   the   day   unfurled,   and   more   and   more   news   came   to   light.   Many   people   in   Devonport   and   across   Tasmania   will   remember   where   they   were   at   that   very   moment,   the   time   and   the   place   and   how   they   felt   when   they   heard   about   the   Hillcrest   Primary   tragedy.   I   remember   the   meeting,   the   room,   the   phone   call   and   my   feeling   of   utter   disbelief   and   helplessness.   The   loss   of   the   lives   of   schoolmates,   Peter,   Chace,   Jalailah,   Zane,   Jye,   and   Addison,   and   Declean   and   Beau   were   two   of   the   injured.   The   tragic   circumstance   of   their   deaths   and   injuries   have   impacted   on   their   classmates,   their   school   buddies,   the   Hillcrest   community   and   that   day   and   moment   will be etched forever into many of those young minds.

We   in   this   place   cannot   truly   appreciate   nor   fathom   the   sense   of   loss,   the   hurt   and   the   pain   and   we   will   never   truly   understand   the   rhyme   or   reason   for   its   occurrence.   All   we   can   do is   express   great   sadness   and   sorrow   in   this   parliament,   recognising   and   acknowledging   the   hurt,   and   hoping   that   in   some   small   way   our   speeches   echo   those   names   in   this   place,   and   reinforce   that   all   people   are   important   and   should   be   remembered,   especially   those   taken   so   young. This   hurt   was   felt   deeply   across   our   community,   Tasmania,   Australia   and   the   world.    The   hundreds   of   thousands   of   people   who   were   shocked   and   overwhelmed   by   the   event   cannot   and   will   not   let   it   be   forgotten.   The   concern   was   so   clearly   evident   on   Friday  31   December   where   community   members,   young   and   old   gathered   to   assist   with   the   careful   and   respectful removal of the tributes from the front of the school.

As   I   was   speaking   I   watched   the   neighbours   of   Hillcrest   Primary   School   come   out   of   their   houses   to   assist   and   no   doubt   the   impact   of   the   tragedy   and   the   tributes   will   ever   be   in   their   memory.   It   was   a   subdued   and   connected   crowd   that   lined   the   footpath   and   surrounds,   all   there   to   show   their   emotional   support.   Two   large   trucks   were   carefully   and   lovingly   loaded   with   flowers   and   plants   and   wreaths.   A   huge   van   was   filled   with   cards,   photos,   basketballs,   balloons   and   candles,   teddy   bears,   photographs,   angels,   poems,   sparkling   stars,   handwritten   personal   letters,   soccer   balls,   cuddly   toys   and   even   a   signed   skateboard   acknowledging a lost mate.

Professional   staff   and   caring   volunteers   were   on   hand   to   assist   those   grieving.   Because   it   was   being   held   on   New   Year's   Eve   I   asked   those   gathered   if   they   would   like   to   assist   the   SES   in   ensuring   all   tributes   were   gathered.   Mr   President,   I   do   not   think   one   person   left   until   every   flower,   every   card,   every   tribute   was   off   the   ground,   both   in   recognition   of   the   occasion and   also   the   desire   to   help   the   SES,   the   police   department   and   other   staff   who   were   there,   and   they could not help but be impacted by this event.

I   recall   when   on   family   Easter   gatherings   up   at   the   lakes   my nieces   and   nephews   would   not   go   to   bed   until   uncle   Mikey   told   them   a   story.   Next   to   the   outdoor   fire,   we   would   lay   on   our   backs   on   the   ground   in   a   circle   looking   up   at   the   sky.   I   would   often   tell   magical   stories,   including   at   times   the   twinkling   stars   being   like   diamonds   and   each   sibling   having   their   very   own guardian angel looking down to protect over them.

Hillcrest   Primary   School   now   has   six   of   its   very   own   guardian   angels,  caught   in   a   moment   of   time   and   remembered   forever, looking   down   and   looking   after   all   of   the   students   and staff who will walk through the doors of Hillcrest Primary School, always remembered.