Page 1580 - Week 05 - Thursday, 7 April 2005
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difficult to gauge. Obviously, if it is 30 young people, it is 30 young people too many who are possibly cold, hungry and have nowhere to turn to on any given night.
These are significant issues without easy answers, but I think it is important that there be a public discussion about some of the serious issues affecting our youth. National Youth Week is an opportunity for us to address issues of this type, to consider the work we do in this place and how we might seek to solve these issues so that our youth receive the opportunities they deserve as they progress through life in our community.
Valley FM radio station
Seniors Week
MR GENTLEMAN (Brindabella) (6.23): I rise to commend the work of Tuggeranong radio station, Valley FM, in their engagement with Seniors Week celebrations. Valley FM makes an important contribution to the Tuggeranong community in broadcasting 24 hours a day, seven days a week, encompassing so many aspects of life in Tuggeranong.
Valley FM was successful in winning a grant for seniors under the Chief Minister’s Seniors Week community grants program. This was announced on Monday, 4 April. With the assistance of this grant and with the commitment of the staff of Valley FM, Valley FM will now be able to train up to 40 senior radio announcers over the next few months. This will enable senior residents and members of the Tuggeranong community to become active in the community station and to be trained in public broadcasting skills.
The interest in this proposal and the support for the station by seniors in the community was evident on Saturday, when more than 55 senior citizens attended the seniors open day held at the station. Although not a senior yet, I too attended the station and thoroughly enjoyed hearing the history of its origin.
Chris Moy provided visitors with a tour of the station, refreshments and an introduction to some of the senior presenters on Valley FM. The community grants program associated with this opportunity provides a fantastic resource for the station. It allows the station and the community to reach out to seniors and facilitate their participation in such great opportunities for skilling and involvement.
Participation is a strong and recurring theme of Seniors Week. From 2 April to 10 April 2005 “Having the time of our life”, as the theme of Seniors Week this year, is a great expression of the intention of the organisation of such events for senior citizens in our community.
Seniors Week has been discussed in the chamber this week. Mr Mulcahy spoke about it in his adjournment speech on Tuesday, and mention has been made of the excellent array of activities and festivities available in that week. Along with free ACTION bus rides for seniors, events include concerts, picnics, services and a range of activities. The Chief Minister’s free concert at the Hellenic Club yesterday was booked out. Some 900 people attended and thoroughly enjoyed the function. These activities provide a great opportunity for seniors to be involved in an even greater array of activities in our community.
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