Page 338 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 9 February 2021
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member Raewyn Bastion JP; board member Syed As-Sayeed; board member Isaac Te Ao Cotter; board member Steve Taskovski; and CEO Dewani Bukkum.
It is important that we support those who support others in our community and for the wider Canberra community to be aware of the integral work that MARSS does in implementing a successful immigration and refugee policy. We expect that the ACT budget will assist MARSS in the delivery of greater services to those most vulnerable in our community, and we will be having a look to see if that has occurred.
Yerrabi electorate—community events
MS ORR (Yerrabi) (3.30): In case anyone was still unsure whether this place had got back into the swing of business after the recent election and holidays, I am delighted to inform you that today I will be fully settling into the familiar mechanics of this fine democratic institution by presenting the chamber with my first Yerrabi Yap of 2021.
Today I would like to take the opportunity to shine a light on some of the groups and individuals without whom my electorate would not be as rich in culture and community as we are. I start by sending a big thankyou to the Bangladeshi community and ATN Canberra for organising such a wonderful day down at the park on Australia Day for the Gungahlin community. Michael, Tara and I had a fabulous time mingling with our neighbours and friends while we absorbed the outstanding cultural performances and Bangladeshi street food. It takes a huge amount of effort to organise these kinds of events, so I reiterate my gratitude for the opportunity to attend.
Likewise, the newly formed Australian Muslim Friendship Organisation also held a day out in January at Yerrabi Pond, where we enjoyed a barbecue and got the opportunity to discuss AMFO’s ambitions for an increased sense of trust and friendliness between ACT Muslim communities and the broader Canberra community.
Events like ATN’s day out and AMFO’s barbecue are a big part of what makes Yerrabi such a strong community. I once again reiterate how grateful I was to attend but also to witness such dedicated groups of people in action and enjoying life in a COVID-safe fashion. I genuinely believe events like these are fundamental in bouncing back from lockdown and I am looking forward to similar days like these in the future.
However, this would not be a classic Yerrabi Yap unless I updated this place on the state of play in the highly competitive and popular world of Yerrabi cricket. The Indian Australian Multicultural Sports Association—a Yerrabi-based not-for-profit organisation which runs various sports tournaments and activities—held a Pink Stumps Day back in November which helped raise money to fund the McGrath breast cancer foundation, particularly the care nurses who work in communities all over Australia. It was so encouraging to see such a diverse group of young people get stuck into a game and contribute to their communities near and far.
While I am on the topic of sport in Yerrabi, there is a really strong sense of engagement with very localised groups and a huge amount of potential for competitive success but also, as a crucial point, of much-needed socialisation and
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