Rajah Street Community House

Ms DIGANCE (Elder) (15:59): First of all, I thank the member for Kaurna for sharing his recent visit to Tonsley; it really is worth the visit if anyone has the chance. Last week, the Public Works Committee—including myself as presiding member—visited the site to look at where the State Drill Core centre would be going.

I want to talk now, though, about the Rajah Street Community House. Last Wednesday night, I had a great night with around 60 or so people gathered at the Rajah Street Community House for their weekly dinner. It is well patronised and, in fact, is a weekly event that many in the area really look forward to, and some even admit that they do not really need to go but they just love the companionship.

There are some wonderful devotees of this community whose beliefs keep the heart of this community burning. To Jean, Colleen and Mark and all your helpers who every week provide a wonderful barbecue meal in summer and a soup meal in winter, your energy and belief in what you do is a joy to be a part of. Every Wednesday night, these ladies and gentlemen prepare a meal for those in the local area to enjoy. First, they go and shop for the ingredients and then prepare the ingredients either at the house or in their own homes and bring them in.

It is a wonderful opportunity for the community to come together and chat over a meal. It is here I have the opportunity to meet and talk with locals such as Helen and Darren, and I discuss with them in an informal setting and a very relaxed way the issues that face all of us in our everyday lives.

The Rajah Street Reserve Project, opposite the Rajah Street Reserve in Oaklands Park, involves around 410 households. This project brings residents together with activities ranging from working on a community garden, which they are in the process of reinvigorating, cooking healthy meals and organising children's games to offering a bank of computers for people to hone their skills. There are over 70 events or activities in a year and these include coffee mornings, Mothers Day and Fathers Day meals, Christmas parties, outdoor movies and live music. It is really worth attending, and I have enjoyed many of these events.

Rajah Street brings people together to enjoy these activities and each other's company. It serves to rediscover the meaning of neighbour and neighbourhood. It gives residents a chance to join together to swap stories and support each other in an accepting environment, and it has given them ways to meet the challenges of their lives and improve their lives. The group includes people from low socioeconomic areas and culturally diverse backgrounds as well as individuals who describe themselves as socially isolated.

Rajah Street provides the means to break down barriers and create a friendly, caring community looking out for each other. They are always thinking about the next activity that the community members may enjoy. It is an active dynamic program, as it engages each community member and adds to the meaning of their lives. Community members themselves have acknowledged, through an evaluation session conducted by the council, that almost 90 per cent of people believe they now live in a better place and feel safer.

In addition to this community house, only a few months ago the Rajah Street Reserve was transformed from an underused reserve into a multi-use sport and recreation ground, thanks to a makeover spearheaded by Roger Rasheed through the Roger Rasheed Sports Foundation. The rejuvenated reserve includes: two multipurpose sports courts; a 40-metre running track; new landscaping, a grassed area and soccer goals; play equipment; and picnic and barbecue areas.

Roger set up the Roger Rasheed Sports Foundation with a view to improving the physical and mental wellbeing of disadvantaged children. Mr Rasheed sees provision of opportunity, equipment, facilities and funding as advantageous to those with disadvantaged backgrounds. He sees that, with the impetus of encouragement, the catalyst for changing these young people's lives is enormous, and I certainly would agree with him when I have seen the change and transformation that has taken place in this reserve.

With the upcoming school holidays, there is an activity and sports program being offered on this reserve. This will add to the use that is already occurring. Most days and afternoons we see runners practising on the track, tennis players, basketballers, in-line hockey players and families using the facilities. The Rajah Street Reserve Project is a great and practical project contributing positively to the rich fabric of my electorate of Elder, and I love spending time there and with the people and the community.