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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-06-07 Daily Xml
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MITCHELL ELECTORATE

Mr SIBBONS (Mitchell) (15:13): One thing that I believe all that sit in this chamber would agree on is that South Australia is a great state with much to offer for those who live here as well as those who come as tourists. It is easy to be passionate about our part of the country which is spectacular and beautiful—

Mr Venning: The Barossa!

Mr SIBBONS: Yes, and the Barossa, and Mitchell and Ashford and all of those. They are all beautiful aren't they? From our pristine sandy beaches to the grandeur of the outback, including the Barossa Valley. When it comes to Adelaide it is easy to be passionate about a place so liveable, one with sport in its blood and the world's best wineries on its doorstep, not to mention the iced coffee, the chocolate, or the beer. When visitors come to our town it is easy to be enthusiastic as we show them around and introduce them to what is unique or special about our city and state. Sometimes doing so can remind us to treasure what we are so lucky to have. I find it equally easy to be enthusiastic about my electorate of Mitchell, and I am sure all members here feel the same way about the patch of South Australia which they represent.

Recently, I had the privilege of showing Premier Rann and Deputy Premier Rau around my electorate of Mitchell. Premier Rann and I visited five schools: Reynella South primary, Woodend primary, Sheidow Park primary, Stella Maris parish school and Darlington primary. As their local member I have had dealings with all these fine schools previously, but for some it was the first time a premier had visited their grounds.

We took tours of the school and met with principals, teachers and students. Some took part in sports day activities, and others showed us projects they were doing such as the Stephanie Alexander kitchen garden and also put on wonderful musical presentations for us. Students grilled the Premier during question time and, I must say, put him in the hot seat. I will not go any further about the quality of the questions and how good they were—they were very good questions from the students.

After the visits the Premier talked to us about how impressed he was with the students and the schools, and also he had a very enjoyable day. I would like to congratulate all the teaching staff and students involved and thank them for their warm welcomes. Thank you to the staff of the Marion sports and social club as I was pleased to be able to show the Premier the great new facilities they have thanks to a partnership with various levels of government.

I took Deputy Premier Rau around Mitchell from the very southern end of Old Reynella to the northern end, including Marion and Oaklands Park. I would like to thank everyone who hosted our visit that day. I showed him the Lower Field River, a little-known area of great environmental promise and historic significance situated between Sheidow Park, Trott Park and the Reynella area. I told him of my hope that the area will be reborn out of its current degraded state into a healthy ecosystem with thriving native plants and birdlife, incorporating walking and cycling trails.

We visited the wonderful Reynella Neighbourhood Centre which hosts approximately 1,000 people each week through its long-time learning courses and groups which meet there regularly. Driven largely by volunteers, the centre:

...has a vision to be a place for the community to: meet friendly people, to value [and respect] each other's contributions, to recognise strength and difference in individuals, and provide opportunities for life-long learning, growth and fun.

What an inspirational motto by which to operate!

I also took the Deputy Premier to the historic old Reynella Horse Changing Station, a gem of a little museum that many a South Australian, unfortunately, has not yet had the opportunity to visit. Reliant on volunteers to staff, maintain and restore the station, it provides a window into the state's past from the car park of a modern shopping centre, the Old Town Shopping Centre.

We now finish the tour and I would like to thank the Premier and the Deputy Premier for their enthusiasm and commitment to continually striving to make Mitchell and South Australia amongst the best places to live in Australia.

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