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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-05-18 Daily Xml
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Grievance Debate

KERNEWEK LOWENDER

Mr GRIFFITHS (Goyder) (15:06): After that rather interesting completion to question time, it is a pleasure to stand before the house today and talk about a positive thing, that being Kernewek Lowender, which is a celebration of the Cornish heritage that exists within the Copper Coast, which as we all in this chamber would realise is part of the Goyder electorate.

The first Kernewek Lowender was held in 1973 and it is held every two years, so I had the great pleasure of taking part in many activities in what was the 20th Kernewek this last week. I do recognise in the chamber those members who attended: the member for Croydon was there on Sunday; you, Madam Speaker, were there on Saturday at Moonta; the Minister for Families and Communities was there on Sunday also; the member for Fisher was there on the Friday; and the member for Schubert was there on the Sunday. A variety of members of parliament took the opportunity to go up there and help celebrate what is indeed a wonderful part of our history.

It is 151 years since copper was first discovered in the area and a very large influx of people from Cornwall all with a mining background came to actually help save South Australia's financial future by working extremely hard in some very difficult situations with significant loss of life and very hard conditions to even live in. They discovered copper, they mined it for many years and, indeed, they helped give South Australia a future.

The event itself celebrates that wonderful heritage. It involves hundreds of people who actually volunteer and an incalculable number of hours in the months leading up to it to actually make sure that everything runs smoothly. Anyone who has been there would really respect the fact that it is a wonderful series of events held across Moonta, Wallaroo and Kadina which really does celebrate not only that Cornish history but indeed everything that is wonderful about the region.

I want to take special time to actually pay tribute to mayor Paul Thomas. Paul is the mayor of the District Council of the Copper Coast. He is also the chairperson—and has been for many years—of the Kernewek Lowender committee. His commitment to his community in so many ways is just an amazing one, but the effort that he and his wife, Kathryn, put in over that six days and the number of events they managed to turn up to, the fact that they were always dressed in period costume is a credit to him. They would have slept very well on Sunday evening at the completion of everything—a job well done.

For those who have not witnessed it, there is an interesting dance that occurs on the Friday at Kadina called the Furry Dance.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The what dance?

Mr GRIFFITHS: The Furry Dance.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: How do you spell that?

Mr GRIFFITHS: F-U-R-R-Y, I would presume. The previous member for Goyder—I will call him honourable—the Hon. John Meier participates in this. It involves a bit of a skip and a turnaround. You have a partner with you and there are about 10 couples who manage to do it for about half an hour, which is interesting to watch. It is part of the festival on the Friday. The maypole dancing also occurs with our young schoolchildren going around the maypole and making the various designs and then reversing it out, all to the music and with a great level of appreciation from the crowd.

I will take special note of the member for Schubert who has just re-entered the chamber. He takes part, seemingly, every festival, in a cavalcade of cars and motorcycles. I had the great privilege four years ago to be with him in his 1912 Hupmobile. He was not able to be with us two years ago but he and his wife Kaye were back again this year. I hope they enjoyed the drive around and the opportunity to be a part of the ecumenical church service on the Sunday, which the member for Croydon and the Minister for Families and Communities also attended. For those who have not been there—

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Were they dancing?

Mr GRIFFITHS: No dancing there, just singing.

The Hon. M.J. Atkinson: Dancing? It's a Methodist Church!

Mr GRIFFITHS: Yes. It is a two-storey church and it can hold 1,250 people. The Metropolitan Male Choir was in attendance for an hour before the service.

The Hon. M.J. Atkinson: A magnificent voice.

Mr GRIFFITHS: They are, as the member for Croydon states, a magnificent voice. Every person who was in the church was encouraged to sing along with the choir and the various hymns that were occurring. It is an uplifting day. I said to the Minister for Families and Communities when she sat next to me, 'You will walk out of this event today feeling a better person.' I hope she did actually feel better when she and the member for Croydon left, because I know I enjoyed it.

There was a variety of speakers and they all have a religious background, but I think I will pay special praise to the Reverend June Ladner. She is a very passionate lady who is fighting for the history of that church, which only has about 25 parishioners, and they need financial support; so every person who goes is encouraged to contribute as much as they can. I did note that the member for Croydon handed over a cheque, so thank you for that. I am grateful for your support for our church.

The Kernewek Lowender is a wonderful event. It is held every two years. The level of support it receives from Cornish people and the bards from around the nation and the world is uplifting, and I hope that many members have a chance in the future to attend and enjoy it.

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