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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2023-10-18 Daily Xml
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Narungga Electorate

Mr ELLIS (Narungga) (15:09): I thought I would speak about a couple of community events that I have had the great privilege of attending and that have been held in my electorate recently. I will start with the wonderful Paskeville field days, a biennial event that was held on 26 to 28 September—again, another fantastic show. It is difficult to explain the true scale of the event to those in this house who have not had the pleasure of visiting; it is truly a sight to behold, and it is difficult to explain the number of site holders with all the exhibitors, machine salesmen and all the other people there. Again, it was another massive year, and I think it might have been the biggest one yet.

It was wonderful to go there, and we had a stall as well in the Cyclone Pavilion. Unfortunately, it once again fell on a sitting week, so I was only able to attend on the Wednesday. It might be something I have to chat to the government about in a couple of years' time to make sure that we can line it up so I can attend all three days. I would like to take the opportunity to congratulate Greg Stevens, the chair for this year's iteration, as well as Peter Anderson, the CEO, on another wonderful event. As I said, it is an extraordinarily large event run, by and large, by local farmers and volunteers, who do a fantastic job marshalling the troops and getting it all organised every other year. Well done to them.

They have a little bit on their plate, too, because there is a new admin hut coming. The old one burnt down a few years ago, and it has been a years-long project to try to get it replaced. However, I can report that it is on its way and that it will be modelled to look as though it is a silo—built by Ahrens to make it look like it is a silo—and it should house all the administration. It will be a wonderful addition and will mean they can get out of the transportable they have been living in for the last few years and have a proper admin hut to run the event from. I know that the organising committee is very much looking forward to that. I would like to once again congratulate them on another wonderful event at the field days.

The next one, which I was unfortunately unable to attend due to illness, was the Stansbury 150th birthday, and a number of towns are celebrating this birthday coming up. Stansbury had the anniversary of their proclamation on Friday 29 September and then it was a multiday event running through to the Monday. Unfortunately, I was unable to get there—as I said, I was a bit ill—but the opening was at the Stansbury Bowling Club on the Friday night, I believe, with a big event at the town oval on the Sunday, with seaside markets, some classic cars, food and drinks and live music.

It was a really wonderful event and I know that the organisers were truly happy with the turnout, and I would like to congratulate those on the organising committee. Maxine Cooper, Sue Oldfield, Don McPhee, former mayor Ray Agnew—wonderful to see him—and Raelene Modra did a fantastic job organising that really big multiday community event. I know Maxine has said, 'It was fantastic to see so many people of all age groups gathered on our oval. Our little committee worked hard and it all came to fruition beautifully.' Congratulations to that organising committee.

Finally, I had the great privilege of attending the 150th birthday of the Edithburgh jetty recently, which was a tremendous event. I was talking to one gentleman at the conclusion of the formalities on the Saturday and he estimated that there might have been 1,500 people there. It was a really remarkable turnout. It was wonderful to get the opportunity to congratulate the organising committee, led by Nola O'Connell, at that event and to help her unveil a new statue of Edith the horse, named after the town of Edithburgh

Edith was made by Nola's brother, who used a whole heap of old farming equipment and tools to create this wonderful Clydesdale statue, which is truly a sight to behold. If you are driving through, I would urge you to stop on the foreshore. Edith the horse is now positioned in front of the museum and is pulling a restored jetty cart, which was wonderfully restored by the Ardrossan Community and Men's Shed, so it is truly a sight to behold now with that wonderful statue there of Edith and the restored jetty cart.

Congratulations to Nola O'Connell and her wonderful committee. It was a truly exceptional event. I know they had a gala dinner on the Saturday night, which I was unable to attend, and then the markets were on the Sunday, which I am led to believe were another rousing success. We have had a few significant community events in our electorate recently, and I know that more are coming up. The Ardrossan community are planning and preparing for their 150th birthday in the coming weeks and if it is anything like those two previous birthdays, as well as the field days, it sure will be a wonderful event and I cannot wait to get there and attend.

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