Ms VAGHELA (Western Metropolitan): As the year draws to a close on what has no doubt been a trying and enduring year for us all, I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you at this last scheduled parliamentary sitting week of this year. Thank you to my fellow members in this chamber and the other house, my electorate office staff and our ministerial staff and everyone who has supported us this year, from the team at Hansard, our IT staff and parliamentary advisers to the table office staff, our clerks, catering staff, security personnel, our cleaners and all my peers and colleagues that have allowed us to get to where we are today. Thank you to you, Acting President, and also our President, for all your guidance and support throughout the year.
I also want to pass on a special thank you to all my constituents of the Western Metropolitan Region for all the sacrifices they have made over the past 20 months. It has not been an easy period. Thank you for all your patience and belief in our road map to recovery from this pandemic. Thank you to all the community leaders, community groups and places of worship in my electorate of Western Metropolitan Region for quickly adapting to the changing environment and moving their activities and programs to a virtual platform to continue to support our community during the difficult pandemic period.
Thank you to principals and teachers at our schools and early learning centres in Western Metropolitan Region for continuing to provide the necessary education for our children. I would also like to especially thank our essential services staff, frontline service providers, health workers, nurses, doctors, allied health professionals and emergency service providers, who have put their own lives at risk to keep us safe during the pandemic. I applaud every Victorian for the significant contributions and sacrifices they have made to get us where we are today, and I would like to personally wish all Victorians, including residents of Western Metropolitan Region, a safe holiday period and a happy New Year for 2022.