STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Mr REPACHOLI (Hunter) (13:59): This year, the Eather family is celebrating something pretty special: 200 years of farming in the Hunter Valley. That's two centuries of hard work, family resilience and having a crack. That story goes back all the way to 1790, when Thomas Samuel Heather arrived in Australia aboard the Neptune with the Second Fleet.

He married Elizabeth Lee. They built a life in Windsor, and, from that story, that family grew. They found rich country at Bulga.

They made it home, and generations of Eather have been part of the Hunter story ever since. Over the years the family turned their hand to cattle, citrus, sheep, table grapes and eventually wine grapes. Then, in 1991, Rhys Eather suggested the family start making wine under the Meerea Park label.

Thirty-five years later, that name is still proudly connected to the Hunter Valley. We thank you for all the work that you did in the Hunter. To the Eather family, thank you for the 200 years, and I look forward to the next 200 years.

Cheers! The SPEAKER: In accordance with standing order 43, the time for members' statements has concluded.