Hurtle Vale Electorate Community Events

Ms COOK (Hurtle Vale) (15:24): I rise today with some sick air in this deck we call the House of Assembly. I am no fakie, so let me carve it out for you. The Weatherill Labor government funded a shelter and drinks station at Investigator Drive at the Hurtle John Potter Reserve. On Friday 15 March, the weather was perfect for the Onkaparinga Flip'n It Fridays Skate, Scooter, BMX event that was held at the reserve.

I was very proud to sponsor that event and run the sausage sizzle with my office, while Neighbourhood Watch areas 406, 407 and 436 ran the drinks. Emma Cadd, a community development officer from the City of Onkaparinga, ran an amazing event that was enjoyed by many local families, who had a great evening mixing it up with various ages on the ramp.

It was a great opportunity to see the shade sail and drinking fountain at the reserve being used as intended. This was delivered following a street corner meeting where local mum Natalie raised the issue. Being there and watching the kids run around, filling up their water bottles and having a great time while the parents also had somewhere to sit and watch in the shade, it was clear that the investment in the park has really paid off.

Thank you and congratulations also to the organisers of and participants in the wonderful festive events that were held in Hurtle Vale in the lead-up to Christmas last year. It is great to have an opportunity to celebrate the Old Reynella Christmas pageant, which was a wonderful family event held on 14 December. It was really wintry weather that day, a lot of rain, but it held off and the event had a fantastic turnout. It was great fun for all involved, and well done to the parade committee and all the local community groups and volunteers who participated.

The popular community Christmas carols event was held again and hosted by Neighbourhood Watch. This was also another really successful family night. Even though the event was again unlucky, with a lot of rain causing some difficulties at the reserve and a postponement for a week from the initial date, the Neighbourhood Watch team pushed along and delivered a fantastic night, with Carols in the Park being held on 22 December.

The event is a tradition in Hurtle Vale, where the community joins together at Mount Hurtle Reserve in Woodcroft to spread some Christmas cheer and sing along to the carols that everyone knows and loves. Neighbourhood Watch SA area 414, Woodcroft, is a not-for-profit group, and they use the proceeds from the event to support their organisation. Other organisations there included the Onkaparinga Harmony Chorus, the Happy Valley CFS, St John Ambulance and the Lions Club of Noarlunga/Morphett Vale.

A special mention goes to Vicki Smythe, who has recently retired from her position as secretary on the carols committee for Neighbourhood Watch area 414. Vicki has contributed so much to the association and has been an outstanding member of the committee, ensuring that Carols in the Park is a success year in, year out. Thank you so much, Vicki, for your hard work.

We have an abundance of great Christmas lights in Hurtle Vale, and it is great to be able to mention them. They always bring a smile to the faces of not just the children but also the adults alike over summer nights in December. I would especially like to mention the impressive Christmas lights on Emmerson Drive in Morphett Vale. The Branson family uses it as an opportunity to raise money for the Cancer Council year in, year out.

There is also Dorrien Avenue, and 1 Partalunga Circuit, the home of the Bradwell family, Natalie and Peter, who do a fantastic job. Their sister and brother-in-law, Bev and John Bradwell on Rothschild Street at Woodcroft, also do a fantastic job entertaining the kids and going that little bit further with their Christmas lights. Thank you very much to those families.

Finally, I would like to express my joy at the imminent move of the Hurtle Vale electorate office. We are returning to the heartland of Hurtle Vale. We are moving in this coming Friday, and the office will be open from Monday 8 April. In the 12 months since the election, a whole Bunnings has actually been built at St Marys and will open this weekend, with its sausage sizzles and trade nights, so it has been a bit frustrating waiting for the office to open, but thank you to everyone at Electorate Services for the all the effort they have put in.

Thank you especially to my office during this period of transition. We have also had some great support from the local people, including everyone at the Woodcroft Morphett Vale Neighbourhood Centre. The centre has helped us by facilitating an office when we have needed to talk to local constituents. We are having an official opening day on Wednesday 17 April at 10.30 and the community is very welcome.

Mr BROWN: Deputy Speaker, I draw your attention to the state of the house.

A quorum having been formed: