Blackwood Christmas Pageant

Ms HUTCHESSON (Waite) (15:33): Tomorrow night, Santa rolls into town to the Blackwood Christmas Pageant. It will kick off at 6.30 and the streets will be lined with local kids and their families. In what will be its 59^th year, the pageant is much loved by our local community. In fact, I remember as a small child the excitement of seeing Santa.

This year, the pageant, run by the Lions Club of Blackwood in conjunction with my electorate office, is bigger and better. With 55 floats, it is set to be a wonderful evening. Entries from local community groups, business, schools, emergency services, bands, as well as the inaugural Waite Women in Sport float, are set to wow the crowds. I am proud to support the Women in Sport float, with girls and women from across our sports teams proudly inspiring more girls, both young and old, to consider taking up sport, pursuing a career in sport or just enjoying the social aspects of sport.

The pageant meanders from Gulfview Road, culminating at the Waite Street Reserve and this year, in exciting news, the Christmas fair is back. Organised by the Rotary Club of Coromandel Valley, it will provide a festive environment for local kids to welcome Santa after his long journey from the North Pole, all the way down the main road of Blackwood and to the fair. A huge thank you to all of the volunteers involved in these events. Their dedication to our community is very much appreciated.

The festivities do not stop there, though, with the upcoming Christmas Tree Festival. Thanks to Pauline Dodd and the Blackwood Action Group, and all the other volunteers, Tiwu Kumangka (our new community centre) will come alive with Christmas couture trees decorated by local business community groups and individuals, which in some cases can be purchased by the public with funds going to local charities. There is also a Christmas shop with handmade gifts available—a beautiful event bringing the joy of Christmas to our community.

Directly after that, on Saturday 9 December, Christmas carols will ring out at Kingswood Oval, with kids' activities, craft stalls, roving entertainment and a Christmas market. Singers and bands from our local schools and community groups are set to sing up a Christmas storm. Hopefully, the weather will be kind this year after it did get rained on last year, and I hope everybody enjoys that event. On Christmas Eve, the Blackwood Hills Baptist Church at Hewett oval will also have carols until you cannot sing anymore. There is so much festive joy to share.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish my community a very happy and safe Christmas and a very, very safe new year. I would like to thank my office staff: Daniel, Matt, Rachel, Francis and Peter. The amount of work they get through is astounding. Their commitment to my community is very much appreciated, and I know from all the letters and gifts and cards I receive they are well renowned throughout the district.

Also, a thank you to all the volunteers who help me in my role with letterboxing and envelope stuffing, including Judy and even my mum, Millie, who spend hours stuffing birthday cards and letters into envelopes; and to our volunteer JPs, who give our office staff some reprieve—Doug, Mike, Bevan and Geoff—we really appreciate your help.

Finally, I would like to thank my son, Finn, and my family for the understanding of the work I am doing, their support and love, without which I would not be able to live. Merry Christmas to all here in parliament. Hopefully we can end the parliamentary year on a positive note and I hope everybody stays safe over the break.