Page 505 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 8 March 2006
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inflationary childcare rebate and direct financial support to those who need it most, the government would support the motion in its entirety. Of course, in this case it would be the federal government and not the ACT government which would be the target because it is responsible for this initiative.
At 6.00 pm, in accordance with standing order 34, the debate was interrupted and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for the next sitting. The motion for the adjournment of the Assembly was put.
Adjournment
Queen’s baton relay
MR GENTLEMAN (Brindabella) (6.01): On a lighter note to end the day, I talk about sporting events. Every sporting event, no matter the size or scope, has some form of tradition embedded in it. In motor racing, it is traditional to avoid crashing. In basketball, it is traditional that forwards be nearly 7 feet tall. For the Commonwealth Games, there are two great traditions. The first, the Queen’s baton relay, has been the cutting of the ribbon to every game since Cardiff, Wales, in 1958. It symbolises the gathering of people from across the commonwealth. In seven days, Melbourne will be hosting the 18th Commonwealth Games. As tradition has it, the official end to the Queen’s baton relay will open the ceremony.
Before the baton reaches the Melbourne Cricket Ground, it will have travelled a year and a day, covering more than 180,000 kilometres and having visited all 71 nations of the commonwealth; 3,500 Australians by land, sea, and air will have carried the baton. It will have visited more than 500 Australian communities. One such fortunate community is ours here in Canberra. Of the 3,500 Australians who had the honour of carrying the baton, there are four I make particular reference to this afternoon.
Chris Moy, a community radio announcer in the Tuggeranong area, ran his 400 metres on 27 February at 9.27 am, according to the baton’s official website. Chris was running down Constitution Avenue. When he is not involving himself in Commonwealth Games traditions, Chris is encouraging residents of Tuggeranong to get involved in community radio. One of the programs supports senior residents in running their own segment.
Like Chris, Jon Waterhouse, another baton runner, is heavily involved in his community. But unlike Chris, Jon’s community is not geographically based. Jon is into motor sport and his involvement has seen him assist many young motor sport enthusiasts in the region. Jon is a strong advocate for driver training and assists CIT in a number of its programs as well. Given his background in race car construction, I am sure that Jon would have found the mechanics of the baton very interesting.
A fellow Canberran who would have found the average 500 metres a walk in his sleep is Rob de Castella. The former Olympian is still heavily involved in Canberra sports, paying particular attention to young people’s health in the region.
Finally, a woman who has already received much-deserved praise for her work, the 2005 ACT volunteer of the year, Sharon Sobey: Sharon is a volunteer with the Canberra Blind Society and with the Lake Ginninderra sea scout group. A keen outdoors enthusiast, Sharon is visually impaired. She represents the female tandem bike-riding group where
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