Page 538 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 23 February 2010

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I was lucky enough to have a bit of support. My 10-year-old son came along as my chief engineer and coach, and I have to say that he did assist me in putting together my paper aeroplane. I was a little envious when I looked over at Brendan Smyth as he was constructing what he called a special secret Smyth family special. It was quite impressive. Mr Coe and Mr Doszpot also had quite good craft that they put together.

I do have to say that it was a wonderful event that was raising money for the paediatrics unit at the Canberra Hospital. The paediatrics unit is a fantastic place for those sick children who are in need of medical assistance. The staff is wonderful. Having had a couple of my children admitted to the paediatrics unit over the years, I know how great the staff are and what a wonderful job they all do. So it was a pleasure to be there.

I do have to give you the outcome of the paper aeroplane competition. We were split into two groups. I did, I believe, get into the second round in my group but I have to say that, although the plane was okay, my technique was rubbish. I know that Mr Coe, Mr Smyth and Mr Doszpot did quite a bit better. Mr Doszpot showed that he has a very competitive streak. But at the end of the day it was Cameron from Mix 106 who outdid all of us. I have engaged him as a coach for next year so that, hopefully, I can improve my technique and, I guess, not embarrass my son so much next year, although he did join in the children’s competition and came second. He was very happy with a kite and we did spend another hour or so down there at Commonwealth Place flying a kite. It was a beautiful afternoon and congratulations to the Our Wellness Foundation for a fantastic fundraiser and event on Sunday.

Canberra area theatre awards

MRS DUNNE (Ginninderra) (5.36): Madam Deputy Speaker, as you and Mr Coe would know, Saturday night was the sparkling event of the season, with the CAT awards. I want to spend a little bit of time to pay tribute to Coralie Wood and her team for yet another fantastic CAT awards, the 15th in succession. The thing that struck me about this was how this is truly a regional event. The regional theatre groups that participate did extraordinarily well this year and it shows the maturity of the event that they are not along just for the ride.

I pay tribute to some of the award winners. This year, the recipients of the awards were as follows: best set designer for a play, Russell Brown from Canberra Rep for It runs in the family, which was a splendid play, and Bill Deverill from Merimbula’s Spectrum Theatre Group for The club; best set designer for a musical, David Todd from Albury’s Livid Productions for Jesus Christ Superstar; best lighting designer, again, Jesus Christ Superstar, from Livid Productions in Albury; and best moment in theatre, Lyneham high school in Canberra for the entry of the elephant from their production of Aida. I did not see Lyneham high school’s production of Aida but I heard great things about it and I think it is a great testament to music in schools that they would undertake such an adventurous and challenging work.

Kinross Wolaroi preparatory school in Orange won for Strictly Zorro, the Mexican hat dance. The community theatre award went to SFP Productions from Wagga for It Takes Two. In the technical area, Supa Productions and Phoenix Players won for best


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