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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2021-05-05 Daily Xml
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Gibson Electorate

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD (Gibson—Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (15:48): I am pleased to report that in April I officially opened the Brighton Oval sporting complex along with the federal member for Boothby, Nicolle Flint, and the Mayor of the City of Holdfast Bay, Amanda Wilson.

As we celebrated the completion of the $13.7 million project, we were reminded how local public spaces like this bring people together. The official opening was a real community event, with a jumping castle for kids, a barbecue for their parents and sports activities for everyone. There was even a chance to 'meet the machines', with an historical police car, fire engines and garbage trucks on display, and didn't the kids love that.

It was great to see the kids also using the Gladys Mathwin Memorial Playspace, a playground at the heart of this sporting precinct. On top of supporting local sports, this upgrade really does encourage people to live a more active life with a beautiful space to exercise and unwind. It is just perfect for families. This whole project would not have been possible without the help of local champions who worked alongside the state government.

I would like to acknowledge a few of those local champions who are also leaders of the sports clubs who call this venue their home. They include current presidents Jason Webb, Travis Kalleske, Scott Phillips and Kevin Bailie and past presidents Wayne Londema and Kym Steer. Thank you for your contribution to this project. I am thoroughly excited to see this oval used by our local community now and long into the future.

My electorate is home to many creative minds, including the thespians of St Jude's Players. St Jude's is a community theatre group made up of volunteers. Much to the delight of the local audiences, this group runs three full-length productions each year, ranging from comedies to tragedies to musicals.

With COVID-19 restrictions stopping production last year, it was great to see them back in action as I attended their first play for 2021, Alan Ayckbourn's dark comedy GamePlan. This was an outstanding performance, wonderfully acted and expertly produced. My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed the evening. It is always nice to get a little bit of time with her, but to be at a local production was even more special.

As I said, this is a community group run by volunteers, and I just want to recognise a few of those volunteers who live in my electorate. They do everything from building the set to managing the lighting, and it is first class. St Jude's committee is chaired by John Thompson, who is a fantastic ambassador for St Jude's and the arts community overall. Other local volunteers on the committee include Mary-Jane Minear, Don Oakley, Maria Davis, Leigh Wheatley and Maxine Bowles. Thank you to each and every one of you for making these plays possible year after year. You really do a fantastic job bringing storytelling, entertainment and joy to so many people in our community.

Mary-Jane Minear, who volunteers as the treasurer and booking officer, continues her family's long association with St Jude's. Her father, Harold Minear, was a successful journalist, advertising executive and writer. While being in love with the theatre, Harold was awarded the Adelaide Critics Circle Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009 for his long service to amateur theatre. He was well known and highly respected and he absolutely loved being involved with St Jude's Players. The St Jude's Players have many more exciting plays scheduled later this year, including Patsy Thomas's play The Ghost Train, which runs in July. I encourage everyone to grab a seat and watch the St Jude's Players—you will not regret it.

I rise today to speak about inspiring individuals and strong community groups in my electorate. It is always incredibly encouraging to see our younger community members tackle projects with creativity and drive. Grace Lam of Somerton Park is the embodiment of these character traits.

Grace is a remarkable 19-year-old woman who has started her own business, called Grace's Handmade Cards. I encourage you to have a look at her website. She is a skilled artist who sells a number of beautiful products, from her signature handmade cards to hand-poured candles, tote bags and etched wine glasses just to name a few. I have one of those etched wine glasses in my cupboard at home.

When Grace left school, she decided to pursue her artistic interests by starting her business, supported by her mum, Monica Kwan. Since then, she has been hugely successful. Last year, she sold 500 candles and donated 10 per cent of the proceeds to Tutti Arts. Grace's interest in making cards with her own designs goes back to 2018, when she helped with a fundraiser for Tutti Arts. Let me just briefly recognise Tutti Arts here as well. As a local organisation, they support the development of artists with a disability. Their positive impact is largely thanks to artistic director, Pat Rix; general manager, Linda Williams; and president, Andrew Downing.

In just a short time, Grace has received widespread recognition for what she does. I am pleased to report that Grace is a finalist in this year's Carclew Creative Achievement Award, which is given to a young South Australian using their creativity to make a positive impact in their field. Winners will be announced at a gala dinner on 21 May. I wish Grace all the best and hope that she knows her local community supports her immensely.

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