Chaffey Electorate

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE (Chaffey—Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development) (15:10): I rise to speak about a local experience in the electorate of Chaffey through the month of October, and what a great month it was, celebrating the 25^th year of the Renmark Rose Festival. The event ran over 10 days in the Riverland, and I was absolutely delighted to officially open the rose festival at the Jarrett Memorial Gardens, where we had many stallholders and the roses were in full bloom. The Riverland is picture perfect coming into the rose season.

The 10-day annual Renmark Rose Festival is one of my favourite Riverland events. It attracts thousands of visitors from around the world, as the region blooms and the gardens across the Riverland flourish. Fifty-one garden beds were opened up, with over 3½ thousand rose bushes, really highlighting the importance of the rose economy to the region. The attractions are not only the gardens but it is getting out there and experiencing the people who are generous enough to put their hard work and dedication into their homes and gardens and open them up to the public to allow people to come in to have a look at the great work. In many instances, some of the gardens on show are a work of art.

Again, the festival was great for the local economy—it packed out the streets and all the accommodation facilities were full—and it really does bring the region to life. The winner of the Renmark Rose Festival Ambassador this year was a tie between Peter-Marie Phillipou and Barbara Tsolomitis. Peter is a local journalist at The Murray Pioneer and Barbara Tsolomitis works at the Renmark Medical Clinic. They both raised money at several events for the Ronald McDonald House charity.

I would like to commend the outstanding job that the committee and the volunteers do to plan and coordinate this run. It is a magic event and it has now been going for 25 years. Well done to the rose festival committee: chairperson, Celeste Newbery; secretary, Mardi Townsend; and treasurer, Chris Peterson. Well done to the rest of the longstanding committee: Lorna Taylor, Richard Fewster, Allan and Sandy Maddocks and Sheree Chappel. They have all done an outstanding job. They are great community workers who get out there and bring this festival to life.

I was also lucky enough to cut the ribbon at the Riverland Relay For Life at the Berri Oval. I was humbled by the level of support and the stories I was told about people who have been touched or impacted by cancer and to see the people who participated in the Relay For Life. It was a great testament to those who are prepared to get out there and run the relay day and night. It is celebrated right round the world—four million people over 20 countries who really empower and unite local communities with the issue of cancer.

In 2018, the Riverland event raised $52,000. Now in its 16^th year, the event is showing no signs of slowing. There were 14 teams and 160 participants, and they walked 19 consecutive hours to raise money for the Cancer Council of South Australia. This year's event raised even more: $55,500, and there is still money to be collected. Congratulations to all the people who participated and organised. I must say that Nancy Murdock has done an outstanding job as one of the event organisers. Her trusty team provided food and refreshments and organisation skills and kept the entertainment rolling along.

I would also like to touch on the Riverland Ambassador program. Proudly, I am a Riverland Ambassador, and I wear that badge with pride and honour. It is a very simple program. You go online and answer a questionnaire. To be eligible to be an ambassador, you have to understand some of the attributes and some of the history of the region so that you can be an ambassador when you are out and about in social circles or at community functions, or in another community, with the knowledge and skill to spruik and back your own backyard.

The Riverland Ambassador program was launched in July. We now have 140 locals who have completed their online training. I would like to commend Destination Riverland General Manager, Caroline Phillips; Brenton Pankhurst, who is the chair; the coordinator, Kate Gillespie; and the entire Destination Riverland board for their great advocacy for the Riverland and for the outstanding work they do to promote tourism for the Riverland.