Page 3808 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 18 October 2005
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Southern Cross Club, the Rotary Club of Canberra north, ACTTAB and, of course, the ACT government.
The efforts of their 78 members and the 10 volunteers help them to remain active within the community and participate in regular events such as Active Australia Day, the solar boat race in the science festival, the kids with cancer picnic and International Day of People with a Disability. Although Sailability supports those with a disability, they also encourage anyone to have a go at sailing. They provide a friendly and supportive environment that allows individuals to grow and develop as members of our community.
The launch of this season was also a chance for Sailability to specifically recognise the generous support of the Canberra Masonic Centre. Over the past seven years the Masonic fraternity’s donations have provided everything from boats to insurance. These donations do not just provide the club with equipment, they also ensure that it will survive well into the future. In 1999 the Masonic fraternity bought Sailability ACT 12 boats, a trailer, a safety boat and ancillary equipment, and provided funding for maintenance and insurance costs for four years. The ACT government provided initial key funding for Sailability ACT through the department of sport and recreation in the form of a $5,900 grant in assistance for the years 2000 and 2002. It has continued its annual funding to include support for a boat, trailer and computer, a “women with power” course and a first aid course for women.
I first became involved with Sailability ACT in December last year when, along with other Assembly colleagues, I joined in the annual three monkeys race. I still believe Mr Stefaniak tricked me into stalling at the start, but I can assure members it will not happen again. The idea of the race is to get a sense of what Sailability has to offer the community, to understand the obstacles people less able than I have, not only with sailing but also in doing things in everyday life that we do not even think about.
Further to launching this season’s Sailability, there was a “freedom bell” erected to commemorate the Canberra Masonic Centre’s ongoing support of Sailability ACT. The freedom bell concept relates to Sailability’s motto, “freedom on the water.” I would like to thank Terry and Pat from Sailability, the Canberra Masonic Centre for their contributions and the volunteers who give up their time to show us what a little bit of hard work and support from the community can do for such a worthwhile community organisation.
Monte 24-hour cycle race
MR CORBELL (Molonglo—Minister for Health and Minister for Planning) (6.25), in reply: I rise in the adjournment debate this evening to mention and commend Canberra Off Road Cyclists for their very successful hosting of the Monte 24-hour mountain bike race in Kowen forest during the first weekend of October this year. For those members who are not aware, a very significant cycling event occurred in Canberra a couple of weekends ago. The Monte 24-hour is one of the largest mountain biking events in the Southern Hemisphere. Over 2,500 competitors participated in the Monte 24-hour cycle race during the first weekend in October, here in Canberra. It took place in Kowen forest. The Monte 24-hour is not an easy event. There is a lap of 19 kilometres. The aim of the race is for teams, or indeed solo riders, to ride as many laps as possible within a set 24-hour period—from midday on the Saturday until midday the following Sunday.
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