Page 1414 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 12 May 2021
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cameraman. I was very excited to meet him. The exhibition is now travelling to all town centres and then on to various aged-care facilities, which enables so many more people in our community to see these creative and positive images of ageing.
The next day saw the Chief Minister’s Silver is Gold concert at the Canberra Theatre, a fabulous performance put on by the Duntroon RMC Big Band, conducted by Captain Shane Gillard, and attended by more than 750 members of the public. The Silver is Gold Festival will continue throughout the year, with a seniors expo on 16 September and culminating in a picnic and a performance day for grandparents and grandchildren on 31 October.
I would like to congratulate Jenny Mobbs and her team for their creativity and inspiration in pulling this festival together. Expanding Seniors Week out into a series of events which take place throughout the year is such an important step towards rebuilding our sense of community and stitching together our social fabric in the wake of the disconnection and uncertainty brought about by COVID-19.
There is power in community events such as these that bring us together, enable the sharing of stories, spark conversations and connection. The Silver is Gold Festival recognises the important role that older people play in making Canberra the city we love. If we value our seniors and the contributions they make, then we all benefit.
Debate interrupted.
Standing orders—suspension
Motion by Mr Gentleman agreed to, with the concurrence of an absolute majority:
That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent the adjournment debate continuing for a further 15 minutes.
Adjournment
Environment—swift parrot
MS VASSAROTTI (Kurrajong) (5.21): I rise today to speak about the critically endangered swift parrot. If you are lucky enough to see one, the flash of green and crimson as a swift parrot flies past is a sight to behold. Last Friday morning I visited the Callum Brae Nature Reserve in Symonston, where more than 50 swift parrots have been sighted. With fewer than 300 swift parrots left in the wild, this was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Sadly, by the time I got there they had moved on, leaving me to wonder how many people will get to see these beautiful birds before they become extinct.
The Australian National University ecologist and swift parrot expert Dr Debbie Saunders describes swift parrots as the larrikins of the forests. They get excited. They get a bit high on the sugar load. They scramble around amongst the branches and they love the wild weather. They are, after all, Tasmanians! The swift parrot does have a story to tell, but unfortunately it is not a pretty story at the moment. It is a story of environmental devastation, of governments failing to protect one of its own, and of
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