Page 5616 - Week 13 - Thursday, 17 November 2011
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My favourite is probably the dinosaur. That is now my view out of my window. I went around there before it opened because I was trying to work out what on earth this thing in the courtyard was. It is made out of, I believe, 300 milk bottles. It says on it that it is going to become extinct because we will not have enough petrochemicals for it. So it will go the way of all dinosaurs.
But it is great fun and it is good to see that the young people were seriously interested in different urban forms. I am very impressed that they have a tower. There are going to 13,000 units in this one tower and it is next to a workers tower. I can imagine the flying fox in between. I think it would be really great. There is a sustainable board game as well, if you feel like playing it.
I highly recommend it to everyone and I hope that we will see more of these ideas in the future. Clearly, if we are going to address our environmental problems, the kids are incredibly important in it—possibly the most important people in it.
As Mrs Dunne mentioned, she and I, along with others—I understand later yourself, Mr Speaker—went to Megalo’s open day at the weekend. As she said, it was a very pleasant and courteous event. Like her, I had had people tell me that I should take a bodyguard with me, but that was definitely not in any way needed. I am very glad that the level of angst that we have sometimes had in the Assembly about the issue has not permeated all the way in to Megalo. This is really great. I think that one thing that Megalo do appreciate from this is the high regard that everyone has for them, because we have all been saying this. I think that is one of the more positive things to come out of it.
McHappy Day
St Francis Xavier college
MR COE (Ginninderra) (6.31): I rise this evening to acknowledge McHappy Day, which was held last Saturday, 12 November at McDonald’s restaurants across the country. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the initiative which has managed to raise over $18 million for Ronald McDonald House charities. The funds go towards the provision of much-needed assistance to families of sick children. The target for this year’s event—$3 million—which I am told has been well and truly exceeded, included $31,646.65 from the Belconnen and Gungahlin stores.
I believe that McDonald’s is a great company, a company that promotes community activism, invests in staff skill development, employs many people, especially youth, and provides a safe place for families to congregate. I was very pleased to help out on the day at the Charnwood McDonald’s restaurant, which is one of the five stores owned and operated by Mr Hani Sidaros. I thank him for the risks he takes and the investment he has made in Canberra. He is one of Ginninderra’s largest private sector employers.
I would like to use this opportunity to thank the local community for their generous support and especially thank the Canberra Raiders, Brumbies, Scouts Association, Lisa Buchanan, coach of the Jazzy Jumpers junior olympian skippers, Nicole
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