Page 1127 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 16 March 2005

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Other groups involved are too numerous to mention at this particular time, but I would acknowledge the work of Peter Ross, the principal of Charnwood primary school, and John Bourke, his counterpart from St Thomas Aquinas Catholic School, who have worked enthusiastically to develop positive atmospheres in their schools and encourage unprecedented inter-school cooperation. All the efforts of these volunteers would, of course, count for nought were it not for the resources made available to bring it all together.

To this end, support of the ACT government was pivotal and the $10,000 from the community grants program was crucial to the carnival’s success this year. I would also like to acknowledge the support of radio station 104.7, which promoted the event and provided on-air personalities to host the “Charny Idol”, which showcased the talents of 12 young local people between the ages of seven and mid teens.

I had the opportunity to be involved in the Charny carnival and I have no doubt that, with continued support of the Stanhope government, the Charnwood business community and the local community, the Charny carnival will go from strength to strength and will be eagerly anticipated each year.

Linc program

MRS BURKE (Molonglo) (6.21): This has been a week indeed of reading letters. I would like to read a letter to members. I have the permission of the person who wrote to me. It says:

Dear Mrs Burke

I am writing to you on behalf of my grand daughter, Lisa Allan, she is one of the disabled young people in the LINC program with Centacare and has been allocated a property (I have enclosed a copy of her allocation letter), which is to one of the properties supplied through the CORHAP program.

For members’ information, that is the community organisations rental house assistance program. The letter continues:

You may recall speaking with Lisa at Capital Careers graduation last year, she was the girl in the wheelchair, and you said you would be happy to help in any way you could.

The current situation is that Centacare met their commitment to purchase five properties and the young people were all moved in by the end of November, and are very happy. The other four were to be supplied by CORHAP as “Community Housing” properties, so far not one has been handed over to Centacare. I feel they have absolutely failed these young people who really have enough difficulties to cope with given their physical disabilities.

This situation has not only caused great disappointment, but has split the group so it is not able to function as it should. In Lisa’s case she purchased the essential white goods and other necessary items ready for the expected move in September or soon after. It is much later and no action from CORHAP.


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