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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2010-10-28 Daily Xml
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WILMARK AWARDS

Mr BIGNELL (Mawson) (15:12): I rise today to congratulate the winners of the recent Wilmark Awards at the Willunga Farmers Market a couple of weeks ago. It was my great privilege to be at an establishment called Our Place on top of Willunga Hill, which is run by Andy and Anna Clappis, who used to have the Maylands Hotel and who now do a fine job of making fantastic bread, pastas and other goodies in the Willunga area. They have a stall called Happy Foods at the Willunga markets every Saturday morning, and they hosted us again this year for the Wilmark Awards.

I would like to congratulate the stallholders and individuals who were winners this year. They include Hart's Vegetables, a family company that has had three generations involved in market gardening. They were originally in the Campbelltown area when Campbelltown produced a lot of our state's fruit and vegetables. Unfortunately, a lot of that land is now under housing and producers are moving further and further out into the fringes.

I mentioned at the awards that the markets not only provide us with a great opportunity to get fresh fruit and vegetables and other produce every Saturday morning but they also set a fine example for people in South Australia about how food used to be. I think that, in many cases, we have lost a generation (or perhaps two generations) of knowledge of where food comes from, how to prepare food and how to grow food.

The markets give us an opportunity not only to buy good fresh fruit and vegetables but to meet the people who produce it. From companies such as the Bickleigh Vale Farm you can buy your vegetables and also buy seedlings. I have to pick up some on Saturday, it is that time of the year when we have to redo the vegie patch, and the people who run that company tell you when you should plant your seeds and how to grow them.

I congratulate Diana Bickford and Jen Harvey, who were winners of the Grower of the Year Award at the Willunga Farmers Market awards—the Wilmark Awards—and thank them for the great contribution that they make in educating people like myself, who maybe only a few years ago were not too sure what to grow and what things look like, and telling the difference between a radicchio and a radish, but I am much better informed now, thanks to those people.

It has also helped drive my passion against the introduction in this state of genetically modified plants. We have seen other mainland states in Australia give into the poison pedlars like Monsanto, who want to bring in genetically modified crops and allow them to grow. I think South Australia is providing a fantastic point of difference in the international market. We see Japan going against GM foods, and we see EU countries more and more going against genetically modified foods. For South Australia now to be able to claim that we are the only mainland state in Australia to produce crops that are free of genetically modified nasties, I think is a very good thing.

Mr Venning interjecting:

Mr BIGNELL: The member for Schubert interjects. I have actually used that line in front of a guy in London who worked for another one of those companies—Bayer. So, we have had the debate in London on this as I promoted overseas the fact that South Australia is GM-free. To get back to the Willunga Farmers Market and the great example that they set, I will continue with a few more of the award winners and give them my congratulations.

I have mentioned already Harts Vegetables, who won the Favourite Stall. Best Customer Service went to another great outfit—McLaren Vale Orchards. When you have to get up, pick all of your crops and get to the market first thing in the morning, you are not always at your best, but each year there is an award for Best Morning Person. This year went to a young person called Quin McPherson, who gets out there and rings the bell. He was pretty delighted when he received his award and a miniature bell.

Shopper of the Year went to Kerry and Brad Gerritt, and the Grower of the Year, as I mentioned before, went to Bickleigh Vale Farm. Best Value Added Business went to the Willunga Pasta Company—again, great produce. The Outstanding Service Award went to Jude McBain, who has done a great job chairing the Willunga Farmers Market over the past year or so.

I do declare an interest in this. I am a member of the Farmers Market at Willunga, and long may it continue. It is the first one in South Australia. We have now seen markets grow in the Barossa, at Victor Harbor, and there is one at the Wayville Showground every Sunday morning, and I think it sets a fine example.

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