Page 4598 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 31 October 2018
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
pieces up to the original site and put all the pieces back together. Today, it is a great little spot for lunch and home to a huntsman or two.
It is important to think back to the immense destruction of that 2003 fire, because the Namadgi National Park is so rich and varied in its plant and animal life. There are over 700 species of plants and at least 35 native mammals such as gliders, possums, platypus and echidnas, and grazers like kangaroos, wallaroos, wallabies, and wombats. We must make sure that our national parks are not disrupted through bushfires or other external factors, because they are important not just to animal life but also important to us through our water supply.
Thank you to Di Thompson from the National Parks Association for being the driving force behind this special day and for helping to bring together all the people who participated in the field trip. Thank you also to Minister Rattenbury for providing the park rangers for the day so as to ensure that the trip was as efficient as possible, and for helping me over some of the taller branches on our hike down to the bog.
It was an incredible opportunity to explore Namadgi National Park with such an eclectic group. My team once again mentioned how trips like this are one of the best things about me having the environment portfolio. I encourage all members of the Assembly to dedicate, at the very least, a Saturday or a Sunday to exploring the magnificent Namadgi National Park. We really are blessed to have such an exquisite natural environment so close to our city.
Sport—Gungahlin Jets
MS ORR (Yerrabi) (5.25): I would like to take the opportunity to congratulate the Gungahlin Jets Australian Football Club on what has been a truly significant 12 months. On Saturday, 22 September, I attended the 2018 presentation night. The night celebrated a season where records and streaks were broken as the Jets proved themselves as an emerging force in AFL Canberra.
In the lead-up to the 2018 season, there was a growing expectation around the place, and the men’s first grade showed why when they broke a nearly two-year losing streak in round 1. In round 6 the Jets had a record win, beating the Hawks by 98 points, only to break it again in round 11, with a 134 point win. Later in the season, the men’s reserves broke a losing streak that stretched back as far as 2015, with a one point win.
The year 2018 marked a rebuild for the Jets women’s team, who had played in the last two grand finals, winning in 2016. The women again led the way, only missing out on the finals with a seven point loss in the final round of the season. Perhaps most encouraging for the Jets was that this season featured a weekend where all four senior sides, the first and second grade men’s sides, the women’s first grade side and rising stars won on the same day.
In netball, the Jets played their first preliminary final. The netball grew from two teams in 2017 to four, and the club welcomed many new faces.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video