Page 5486 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 16 November 2011
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Secondly, I want to talk about the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre. I went to the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre gala fundraising lunch on 10 November. This was held at the CIT, and it was a great event. I think we are all aware of the Rape Crisis Centre. It provides confidential counselling and practical supports for women and children who have experienced any form of sexual assault, either recently or in the past. They have a 24-hour crisis service and a phone line. They have advocacy and information.
Thirdly, I turn to a much more positive event, but one on the same general theme—Sexual Health and Family Planning ACT. Its main problem in life right now, I have to say, is that its name is unpronounceable. When I was a younger woman it was just Family Planning, which had the major advantage that you could pronounce it.
Ms Hunter: SHFPACT.
MS LE COUTEUR: Exactly, Ms Hunter—unpronounceable: SHFPACT. Anyway, whether its name is pronounceable or otherwise, it has the same aims now that it had 40 years ago when it started. I went to its 40-year anniversary AGM. Its purpose is improved sexual and reproductive health for the Canberra community within the framework of feminist social values. It works specifically with the priority populations who have barriers to improved sexual and reproductive health—young people, financially disadvantaged people, culturally and linguistically diverse people, people with disabilities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex and/or queer people.
So in summary, sexual health and sexual violence are important issues for the Canberra community. It is sad, in a way, to say that we have been having Reclaim the Night marches for 33 years here. But while it is an issue, it is really important that we stand up for it. It has not gone away, and people who think it is a problem should not go away either.
Narrabundah college theatre arts
YMCA Canberra
MR DOSZPOT (Brindabella) (9.31): On Saturday, 5 November I had the pleasure of attending the final night of the Narrabundah college theatre arts production of Marat/Sade—the persecution and assassination of Jean-Paul Marat as performed by the inmates of Charenton under the direction of the Marquis de Sade. The play was written by Peter Weiss in 1963, I think. Theatre arts at Narrabundah college has a very high reputation for having produced many creative and engaging shows over the years. Its 2011 production of Marat/Sade certainly continued this exciting and fine tradition of high quality theatre.
I would like to congratulate director Nikki Dudgeon and the cast ensemble of Narrabundah college theatre arts on the spectacle that was created—of eccentric characters, lighting, music and song that made for an intense and exciting night of entertainment. The cast included Celia Berry-Smith, Tayler Birch, Lucy Clarke, Hannah Dehelean, Pia Dunlop, Dayne Garani, Kane Gaundar, Tom Hinds, Zoe Hinge, Elle Kromar, Maddie McWilliams, Huxter Nicol, Lindsey Randall, Sam Roberts,
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