A standing ovation from her NSW Labor colleagues followed Heathcote MP Maryanne Stuart’s inaugural speech in the Parliament of NSW tonight.

Mrs Stuart – the first female Member for Heathcote – spoke about her upbringing, her family, friends, supporters, and professional and personal background during the address in the Legislative Assembly.

Mrs Stuart was born in Quirindi, Queensland, as her father worked on the railways and was stationed at Werris Creek.

At the age of four, Mrs Stuart, her parents and her six older brothers, moved to a three-bedroom home in Engadine – the same suburb where Mrs Stuart still resides today.

“We had a big backyard and played tennis on a cement slab with two outdoor benches as a pretend net,” she said.

“We also played cricket, touch footy, had chickens and a whole Royal National Park to explore for tadpoles and blackberries.”

The Heathcote MP also spoke her interactions with the health system – in particular, the vastly different experiences her parents had with their end-of-life care.

“In 2016 Mum passed away surrounded by her family,” she said.

“The Palliative Care Team from the local area health service and the aged care nurses and staff were incredible.

“Mum had dignity and respect right till the end.

“In 2020 four years later, our Father passed away.

“The difference in care was stark over those four years.

“It was obvious how health and aged care over those four years had deteriorated.

“We had aged care workers in tears and apologising.

“Those same workers had looked after Mum and they knew the care at every level, was not as good for Dad as it was for Mum.

Mrs Stuart also reflected on her journey from community leader to candidate to Member for Heathcote.

“For me, it’s been a long journey to arrive here,” she said.

“Three campaigns and 12 years or more all up, at times with many obstacles and roadblocks – but I conquered.

“As Michelle Obama says, ‘When they go low, you go high’.

“I’ve gone high.”

*A full copy of Mrs Stuart’s speech is attached*