VIRGINIA TOWNSHIP

Mrs VLAHOS (Taylor) (15:43): I rise to speak today about one of my electorate's most diverse and energetic communities, the township of Virginia. More specifically, I would like to share with members some of the great community events I have had the pleasure of attending over the last few weeks. At the beginning of this month I was able to attend the Virginia Netball Club presentation dinner held at the Virginia Sporting Bodies clubrooms. This club represents those values of volunteering and community spirit that all members here seek to foster in their various electorates.

I am very happy to see from such a small township such a high level of participation from all sectors of the Virginia community. On that night I was honoured to sponsor the club with one of my annual community sports leadership awards, which this year was presented to the modified netball under 8s team, and all the girls who played got a prize.

A special mention must go to the whole Forby family who have worked have over many, many years to make sure this club is a success. They organise local teams in the area very well and are well-loved by the team members and the families that have been involved in this club for many years. I wish them all the very best for next year, and I am looking forward to visiting the club soon in its new shed that has been supported by a grant from the state government.

On the same weekend I was able to attend the Festa di Maria Santissima di Crochi, hosted at Our Lady of Assumption Catholic Church in Virginia. This feast day is celebrated by the large Italian community in Virginia and attracts participants from all corners of the Adelaide Italian migrant community together with the whole Virginia community. Celebrations begin in the middle of the year with a fundraising dinner and dance. I have been to this in the past, and this year I was happy to donate a large prosciutto for their annual auction, and it fetched a very nice donation for the committee which assisted with the festa.

The streets of the town become filled with people on the second Sunday in September, with a colourful procession of banners and flower-bearers paying tribute to the saint who guided their particular migrant community to their new homeland in search of a better life for their children. Now in its 33^rd year, the feast is organised by a fleet of dedicated volunteers, particularly president John Bergamin, secretary Natalie Gentile, Domenica Bergamin, and parish priest Father Anthony Paganoni. A special mention on behalf of the committee must go out to the late Guiseppe Piscioneri, who carried the feast and the community's traditions for many years. He is well recognised and well loved by people even though he has passed.

Last, I would like to pay tribute to the Virginia branch of the Country Women's Association, of which I am a member. I had the pleasure of volunteering, for the third year this year, at the Royal Adelaide Show with these ladies. Many of these dedicated ladies spend weeks preparing for the rush at the Royal Adelaide Show, either serving food or cooking in the kitchen upstairs at the Country Cafe. It serves as the biggest fundraising event for the CWA each year.

I would particularly like to put on the record my thanks to Raeleen, Evelyn and Val for their help in the days over the last couple of years, and all the lovely ladies for their hospitality—especially for allowing me a promotion this year, going from making tea and coffee to serving food: pies, pasties, hotdogs and milkshakes.

An honourable member interjecting:

Mrs VLAHOS: Yes, two years of graduation. I look forward to continuing my relationship with these three special and fantastic community organisations that typify the wonderful community spirit that is the lifeblood of so many of our communities in South Australia, particularly in the electorate of Taylor. They should not only be celebrated and supported by those in their local community, but shown as much support as possible from members in this house.