Page 2993 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 20 September 2006
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Many people in this place will be aware of the West Belconnen community health committee. This committee was formed in 2004 to develop a community cooperative health service for West Belconnen. You, Mr Speaker, other representatives from this place and the federal member for Fraser, Bob McMullan, are patrons of this committee. This committee is again an example of the power of the community in Belconnen. I am very proud of my involvement with that committee. I believe other members of this place are also proud of their involvement on that committee. I believe the progress they have made so far towards establishing a community health cooperative in West Belconnen and the decision they made at a meeting that Mrs Dunne and I attended early this morning—that is, to proceed with the project—deserve the congratulations of this Assembly.
There are many more examples of the wonderful things that happen in Belconnen and the wonderful work carried out by Belconnen residents for the development of our community. To name a few organisations, there is Kippax Uniting Care, Flynn neighbourhood watch, Belconnen Community Council, Belconnen regional community service, the University of Canberra students association, the Kippax task force, the local scout and guide movements, sporting clubs, and of course the various church congregations. They are only a few examples. I would like to publicly thank all of those and other organisations—I guess the list would be too long to mention here—and their very many members for their work in sustaining the Belconnen community.
Let us not forget the local business community and their strong contribution to the life of Belconnen. A good example of this is the Belconnen Fresh Food Markets. Open from Wednesday to Sunday, it is a hive of activity and lively exchange. It is a place where I see families and friends catch up with one another in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. It is a place where local musical talent is often showcased. As you know, I conduct one of my regular mobile offices at the markets on the first weekend of the month. I would like to acknowledge all those who work to make that such a vibrant place.
Before I finish, I need to thank some people. To begin with, I would like to thank Mr Eric Sparke, who took time to speak to my office about his book. Thanks as well go to Mr Seth Jordon of Belconnen Community Service, who points me in the right direction to find information about the history of Belconnen. I would also particularly like to thank Mr Bryan Rhynehart, a local resident of Charnwood, for his significant assistance. Mr Rhynehart was a veritable mountain of interesting facts and dates. I understand he actually attended the inauguration of Belconnen on 23 June 1966.
I also quickly remind members that all who are able should attend the official celebrations of Belconnen’s 40th birthday, which will be held at the Belconnen Community Festival on 11 November. As many of us know, the Stanhope government is a keen supporter of the Belconnen Community Festival. The festival is a fantastic opportunity for the Belconnen community to join each other and to further build community. It is held in the centre of Belconnen, in Margaret Timpson Park. I believe that park is going to be refurbished in the near future, to make it a more vibrant and user-friendly park for the whole community.
I have lived in Belconnen for 16 years. I know it is a wonderful place to live. All my children and stepchildren have lived in Belconnen and my step-grandchildren now live
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