Page 638 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 9 March 2011

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those who have driven the campaign to encourage organ donors to discuss the matter with their families. As a registered organ donor, I do not think I had quite realised the potential for family members to perhaps interfere with the donation process should it reach that point. It was only through that campaign that I realised that I actually needed to talk to my family and my partner about it—which I did. When I saw the ad, I sat down and wrote them all an email and talked to them about it next time I saw them. It has been a very valuable campaign, and for someone in my own position to have not realised that underlines the importance of the campaign.

I also wanted to touch briefly on the walk for life, which Mr Hanson touched on. I went along with a number of members of both this place and the house on the hill—and a lot of other Canberrans. It was a terrific morning. It was a little chilly, but it was great to see. I am perplexed—Mr Hanson touched on it—as to who runs at a walk for life. It seems a bit of a shame to have run the walk for life. I actually walked it, and I had a really interesting time with the people I met while I was simply strolling around the lake. I had some really good conversations with people who have been a recipient or who have a family member who has been a recipient and who are involved in some way in promoting the cause. It was a really nice experience to stroll around the lake with 1,800 people that morning. I think a few of the commuter cyclists found it a little confronting to suddenly find the cycle path completely blocked.

I simply wanted to take those couple of moments to add my support to the motion and agree with members who have already spoken today about what an important issue this is.

Motion agreed to.

Community gardens

MS LE COUTEUR (Molonglo) (4.35): I move:

That this Assembly:

(1) notes:

(a) that community and household gardens make positive contributions towards food provision, social inclusion and environmental sustainability in the ACT;

(b) the success of community gardens in Canberra, in particular those run by Canberra Organic Growers Society;

(c) the high demand for the expansion of community gardens which is increasing as Canberra’s density increases; and

(d) that demand for community gardens is far outstripping supply; and

(2) calls upon the ACT Government to facilitate the establishment and operation of community gardens:

(a) by setting aside space for community gardens in all new residential


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