MEMBERS STATEMENT: JOHN SWEETING BRIDGE

Mr PALLAS (Werribee—Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Industrial Relations) (09:41:02): I rise today to acknowledge the Andrews Labor government’s efforts to preserve the memory of Wyndham’s past through the Regional Rail Revival bridge-naming competition. I recently attended the official naming of the John Sweeting Bridge—named after the late John Sweeting, who had called the community of Werribee his home for many years. It was an honour being part of the official naming ceremony alongside John’s wife, Nancy, and their son David. John was a well‑known local and had served his community through his business, Sweetings the Jewellers, for more than 50 years. He was an active member of sporting clubs in the area and an active supporter of nearby schools and the Werribee hospital. The John Sweeting Bridge was constructed as part of the government’s $3.6 billion Regional Rail Revival project. Since its opening in 2015 this bridge has been crucial in improving accessibility for our rapidly growing community of Wyndham. Naming bridges helps emergency services pinpoint important locations and gives local communities the opportunity to have ownership over local landmarks. It was a delight to see that John Sweeting’s legacy has been recognised in such a special way. John and his family represent the important ideals of community and togetherness that Werribee holds dear. His name will undoubtedly live on for years to come. I want to acknowledge the attendance of and the great support for the community that the member for Tarneit provided at that event as well.