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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-10-30 Daily Xml
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GARDEN ISLAND YACHT CLUB

Dr CLOSE (Port Adelaide) (15:18): Today I wish to inform the chamber about the merits of the Garden Island Yacht Club which on Saturday last had its season open day. For me, the day started with a fantastic giant garage sale at the Le Fevre Community Centre oval arranged by the Rotary Club of Largs Bay and then, for me, a pretty exciting photo with some legends of the Port Adelaide Footy Club with David Koch, Keith Thomas, Gavin Wanganeen, Russell Ebert and Tim Ginever. That was a photo of proud Port Adelaide people.

For Saturday afternoon I was with the Garden Island Yacht Club enjoying one of Adelaide's hidden treasures, the channel between Garden and Torrens Islands. From the vantage point of the boat hosting the official party, I had the privilege of watching not only the sailpast of the variety of yachts in the club but also the small groups of people, often families, out on kayaks pottering around the Angus Inlet and up into the mangroves of Torrens Island. It reminded me that I really must go out with my family and explore the Port from yet another perspective, and I encourage everyone here to have another look at this amazing part of Adelaide.

The sailpast was typical of Garden Island and represented the qualities I wish to praise today in this place. There is such a variety of boats in the club, from large ocean-going yachts, not only capable of going around the world but that have been and still are being used to do just that, to the much smaller and more simple boats that give their owners huge pleasure in pottering around to Port Adelaide on occasion. Some of the boats had Australian Navy Cadets on board, as they are hosted by the club, and it was a pleasure to see them there.

Another boat had two penguins sailing it—well, probably people in costume, but convincing ones and well deserved winners of best dressed boat. The sight of two solemn penguins standing on a boat against a backdrop of lush mangroves and, further back, the Adelaide Hills prompted me to think that if ever there was a competition for most fun electorate, I would be in with a real shot.

This is a club that does not take itself too seriously, while being completely serious about sailing. It is a club that welcomes people from all backgrounds and is deliberately down-to-earth and practical. The original clubhouse, while still looking pretty good, is, I understand, slumping slightly, so they have built what they call the 'life-raft', which is an extension to the original rooms—a practical solution by the membership. People who belong to this club have their roots deep in Port Adelaide, and I feel very welcome and very at home with them.

I am pleased to inform the house that, as part of the Port Adelaide renewal, we have been able to open up the pontoons on Dock 1 in the inner harbour for the use of the Garden Island Yacht Club, so that they are able to bring groups round into the inner harbour for the night or just a quick visit, and I look forward to taking them up on their recent offer to take me to the Port on one of their boats.

This is all part of getting boat life back into the inner harbour, as is the sand at Cruickshank's Corner to get rowing regattas back, and the move of the One and All back in after her sojourn in the Royal SA Yacht Squadron at the top of the peninsula. One of the qualities of Port Adelaide is that it has not just a proud maritime history but a lively maritime present, and I will make sure that it has a long maritime future.

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