Page 3493 - Week 09 - Thursday, 20 August 2009
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
Also in my electorate of Brindabella, a number of schools have become accredited waste-wise schools. They are Farrer primary school, Gowrie primary school and Theodore primary school. I wish those schools and those students well. It is teaching them very good practices not only for their school but for the broader community and their homes. I wish those schools well and I congratulate them and the AuSSI school program.
Ms Bianca Elmir
MS BRESNAN (Brindabella) (4.19): I would like to congratulate Bianca “Bam-Bam” Elmir from my office who is in the gallery and who, on 2 August 2009, became the World Kickboxing Association Australian bantam weight Thai-boxing champion. Bianca added this to her existing Australia Boxing 52-kilogram Australian title. Bianca’s strong will in refusing cake and chocolates leading up to the fight was evidence of her determination and commitment to the title, which quite obviously paid off.
Mrs Dunne: Not to mention her strong right hook.
MS BRESNAN: That is right, Mrs Dunne. Bianca won the title in a unanimous points decision. With women’s boxing now being added as a medal sport for the 2012 Olympics, Bianca has a tough decision of deciding whether to concentrate on boxing and aim for world and Olympic domination or to aim simply for world domination with kickboxing.
I would also like to inform the Assembly that any queries or complaints to the ACT Greens will now be made through Bianca and any staffers who would like some lessons in head kicking can take the opportunity to go a few rounds with Bianca if they choose to do so. I would once again like to congratulate Bianca on her fantastic win and wish her even more luck on her path to world domination.
Ms Bianca Elmir
35th anniversary of the invasion of Cyprus
MR DOSZPOT (Brindabella) (4.20): I too would like to congratulate Bianca on her fine achievement, which is obviously helped by the great skills that you picked up in soccer, Bianca. Congratulations on your multi-sport talents. I think Amanda is going to need all your help to keep everyone at bay that will be complaining a lot. I am joking!
On Saturday, 8 August, I had the opportunity to attend, in my capacity as shadow minister for multicultural affairs, and to speak at the event to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the 1974 invasion of Cyprus by Turkish forces, an action that resulted in a significant loss of life. Even today, 35 years later, the fate of approximately 1,500 persons is still not known and they are officially listed as missing.
One-third of the Greek Cypriot population were forcibly displaced and to this day are prevented from returning to their homes. Many of these displaced Cypriots have settled in Australia, particularly in Canberra, and, as a result, we have a strong Cypriot community who still grieve for lost members of their family. Functions like the one
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .