Page 3700 - Week 08 - Thursday, 19 August 2010
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In Canberra, motor sport is having a tough time. Whether it be rallying, drag racing, hill climbs or other activities, these people are doing it tough. Motor sport, and indeed cars and motorists in general, are not very popular with this government. The government’s disrespect for our motor sport heritage and their lack of comprehension about the layout of our city and the dependency we have on cars are extremely disappointing. I said in a speech in this place on 18 March this year:
The sport and the vocation has its challenges: the financial costs, the growing towns and cities encroaching on established circuits, bureaucracies, insurance and environmental issues are just some of them. However, none of these challenges are insurmountable. We as a parliament should be working with the motorsport community to work out how we can get the balance right so that we can see the continuation of motorsport in the ACT. I look forward to working with the motorsport communities, including the many clubs, which make Canberra a great place to live.
Mr Stanhope and his government should be working with motor clubs and with motorists to help bring some balance to this issue.
I would like to give a plug to the Council of ACT Motor Clubs and their committee. Their president is Sue Walker. The vice-president is Ross Stephens. The secretary is Paul Burke from the Triumph Car Club ACT. The treasurer is Graham Bigg. A committee member is Allan Boyd; another one is David Rogers; and a further committee member is Harvey Miles of the EJ-EH Holden Club ACT. Non-committee positions include the publicity officer, Graham Gittins, of the Canberra Antique and Classic Motor Club; and the website editor, Tim Miller, from the FE-HR Holden club. The AHMF delegates are Graham Gittins and Bill Lewis.
I encourage Canberrans who wish to find out more about the council or their affiliated and non-affiliated clubs to visit www.actmotorclubs.org.au.
Finally, let me commend the Prostate Cancer Foundation, which was the recipient of the contribution from the council. The foundation is a very worthy cause. It is committed to funding research into the cause, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of prostate cancer; raising awareness about prostate cancer; and providing support, information and advocacy to men and their families impacted by prostate cancer.
The stats speak for themselves. What is the chance of diagnosis of prostate cancer? For a man in his 40s, it is one in 1,000; for a man in his 50s, it is 12 in 1,000; for a man in his 60s, it is 45 in 1,000; and for a man in his 70s, it is 80 in 1,000. In 2010, 20,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, and 3,300 of these will die due to this cancer. It is often a tough subject for men to talk about, but it is a conversation that needs to be had.
Next month, September, is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. I encourage Canberrans to host a barbecue and to ask each attendee to make a donation. I urge all Canberrans to visit www.prostate.org.au to find out more about the cancer, its treatment and how we can contribute to the foundation. On 2 September, I will be attending the Prostate Cancer Support Group ACT Region, when a new website will be launched. I look forward to the event.
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