Page 3088 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 17 October 2007
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Adjournment
Motion by Mr Hargreaves proposed:
That the Assembly do now adjourn.
Hindu temple and cultural centre
MR GENTLEMAN (Brindabella) (5.58): I rise to mention a function that I was able to attend last Saturday on behalf of the Chief Minister. Mr Stefaniak was there with me. It was the Kalash Yatra, which is the walk for peace organised by the Hindu temple and cultural centre in your electorate, Mr Speaker.
The procession started down at Macdermott Place on the edge of the lake. It went to Joynton Drive, along Coulter Drive, then to John Cleland Crescent and Connah Street and ended up at the Hindu temple and cultural centre in Ratcliffe Crescent in Florey. It was led by 108 saris. In the Hindu culture the number 108 is the chosen number. It is divisible by itself and, in turn, reflects the divine nature of the ceremony. I congratulate the Hindu temple and cultural centre on the walk. There was chanting along the way, of course, and the reason for the walk is so that obstacles can be removed and to establish a new foundation of strength for the coming year.
I would like to congratulate Prakash Mehta, Kanti Jinna and Bill Stefaniak for coming along, as well as the representative of the high commissioner and all who took part in the procession. It was a wonderful event.
Ride to work day
MR STEFANIAK (Ginninderra—Leader of the Opposition) (5.59): First of all, I would like to congratulate Hanna Jaireth on organising the ride to work day which a few of us participated in, including Dr Foskey and me, Amy from Brendan’s office and a few other staff members, although not as many as I had hoped. I thank you for arranging a bike from the ANU for me. I have not ridden from McGregor to Civic before and it was an interesting experience setting off down the cycle path through Umbagong Park. I can say that it is not flat along Ginninderra Drive. There is a slow uphill climb until you get to Bruce. There was a significant easterly blowing so I was riding into a head wind. But it was a great experience going through the academy of sport and down through O’Connor and Lyneham into Civic. It was a most enjoyable day.
Several thousand Canberrans availed themselves of that opportunity. I do not know if it is something I will be doing particularly regularly. The demands of this particular job make it somewhat difficult to do that regularly in the morning. But certainly we are lucky in Canberra to have a lot of natural beauty and good cycle paths. The roads are not too bad. Basically, I think Hanna did a wonderful job in highlighting the benefits you get from exercising and cycling to work. I am pleased to see that there are a few Assembly staffers who live fairly close to the Assembly who ride to work.
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