SOUTH AUSTRALIAN REGIONAL CENTRE OF CULTURE

Mr SIBBONS (Mitchell) (16:01): My question is to the Minister Assisting the Premier in the Arts. What is happening in Murray Bridge as it celebrates its title as the 2010 SA Regional Centre of Culture?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The Minister for Health is quietly spoken and I would like to hear him.

The Hon. J.D. HILL (Kaurna—Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for the Southern Suburbs, Minister Assisting the Premier in the Arts) (16:02): Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. I am very pleased to receive this question from the member for Mitchell. The South Australian Regional Centre of Culture initiative targets one regional centre every two years. There are both major investments in infrastructure to provide a lasting benefit for the community and a year-long program of cultural activities. It was introduced by the government in 2007, and the program is a partnership between state and local government with support from the private sector.

Port Augusta, of course, was the first regional centre of culture in 2008. Murray Bridge has the honour this year, and will benefit from $1.5 million in state government funding, with a major contribution, too, from the local council.

Recently, I had the pleasure of opening a new performing arts space in the historic Town Hall in Murray Bridge—and a beautiful hall it is—and the extensive upgrade of the adjoining regional art gallery. The redeveloped Town Hall and art gallery represent the largest performing and visual arts infrastructure project that has occurred in regional South Australia over the past 25 years. I certainly congratulate—

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.D. HILL: —the district council of Murray Bridge for its commitment to this program. The new facilities will be a lasting legacy from the 2010 Regional Centre of Culture program for the community and will be the envy of many other regional communities, not only in this state but across the nation.

As a government, we contribute a total of $750,000 towards the multimillion-dollar infrastructure project. The Rural City of Murray Bridge contributed the balance of funding to a total of in excess of $4 million and oversaw the building project. The government has also provided a further three quarters of a million dollars towards the annual program of events. As part of the opening ceremony, the Welcome to Country was delivered by a choir of nine women—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! You are being very rude today.

The Hon. J.D. HILL: They are, Madam Speaker. The Welcome to Country was delivered by a choir of nine women from the local women's association, Ngarrindjeri Minimar Kykulan. Their impressive performance was the culmination of workshops conducted by vocalists, Vonda Last and Trace Canini, local songwriter Catherine Sumner and Rita Lindsay Junior, who helped to develop a chorus for the song in a Ngarrindjeri language. I note that the local member was in attendance, and I am sure that he would agree with me that they did a superb job.

The benefits of the Regional Centre of Culture program will be long-lasting for the community, as the visiting artists are also training two choir members in how to conduct a choir. The performances, exhibitions, and sound-and-light spectacular that took place over the opening weekend are just a small part of the year-long program of arts and cultural activities.

The Adelaide Symphony Orchestra presented a twilight symphony concert at the local golf course on 20 March. I could not make it that evening, of course, but over 5,000 people found the prospect of a twilight symphony more appealing than the election results being broadcast on television that evening.

Over coming months, the SA Museum will be bringing its roadshow to Murray Bridge and History SA will be holding its 19^th State History Conference there. There will also be an exhibition of works by eminent SA artist Robert Hannaford, a series of performances by the amazing Circus Oz, and contemporary dance programs, including Ignition by the Australian Dance Theatre.

Local artists will also benefit from Kurruru's performance of Min Min, which has been developed with the local community, and Sculpfest on the Murray, which will feature works from local artists as well as sculptors from across Australia.

I have no doubt that 2010 will be a memorable year for the Murray Bridge community and that in the future its impressive new facilities will help to entice arts organisations to exhibit and perform in the town on a regular basis.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.D. HILL: I take this opportunity to acknowledge the great work of Country Arts SA, which has run this program, in particular, Ken Lloyd, the general manager of Country Arts, who has announced his retirement.