Page 5615 - Week 13 - Thursday, 17 November 2011
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Canberra since 1990. They have a host of programs, including core circus programs starting with beginners, adult classes and school holiday programs. They also arrange workshops and performances for community festivals and other events. They teach many circus skills, including tumbling, stilt walking, unicycling and juggling.
On the night we attended we were amazed at the wide range of talents that were showcased. I loved the little kids who threw knives at each other—seemingly with no fear of being hurt. Or were they real knives? They certainly looked real to me. The aim of Warehouse Circus is to foster cooperation rather than competition. We could see the spirit of friendship on display throughout the evening.
This was particularly evident during the occasional fumble, but the show went on—the real circus spirit. I congratulate everyone who participated and assisted in the staging of this exciting event. I know that it meant heavy commitments in time and effort. However, the end result for us as audience members was spectacular. I am looking forward to attending more performances.
Earlier this week I presented awards at another occasion featuring young people. This was the Festival of Young Ideas, an exhibition which celebrates the dreams and the visions of young people for a sustainable Canberra for 2020 and beyond. The festival was organised by SeaChange which, like Warehouse Circus, is a not-for-profit organisation. SeaChange is committed to inspiring, informing and supporting action to reduce Canberra’s ecological footprint. The exhibition is still on display in the exhibition room in this building. If you have not already had a look I would encourage you to do so.
Have a look at the giant dinosaur out on the balcony, which has been made out of recycled two-litre milk bottles. As you will know, these plastic bottles are manufactured using a fossil fuel—oil. That is appropriate given that dinosaurs are also now fossils. The dinosaur was made by one of Canberra’s newest schools, Namadgi school in Kambah. Think about its message: dinosaurs are extinct. If we do not learn to live with our planet, will we too become extinct?
The ACT government has a sustainable energy policy for managing the social, economic and environmental challenges faced by Canberrans. Young people are vital to this sustainable future becoming a reality. Our education systems are the springboard for innovation and change. Sustainable development is now an integral part of school curricula and student culture. The Festival of Young Ideas has given students an opportunity to show what they think about the issues and they have risen to this challenge. Please go and have a look for yourselves.
Festival of Young Ideas
Megalo Print Studio open day
MS LE COUTEUR (Molonglo) (6.28): I will be very brief as the things I want to speak about have already been touched on by other members. Dr Bourke has just been talking about the Festival of Young Ideas. Hopefully everyone here has seen it, but for those people who go up and down the members entrance stairway and may not have, may I point out to you that it is at the public entrance stairway, and it is great.
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