Page 4236 - Week 14 - Tuesday, 26 November 2013

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Particularly without the partners, the event cannot go on. Without the volunteers, it does not get put together. Without the people on the day, it does not happen. So I would certainly like to express my support for TEDxCanberra. It is a great thing.

A major Melbourne retailer sent nine of its graduate staff to TEDxCanberra as a reward for their work in the first year. Many families attend TEDx as a group. Seventy per cent of the audience this year were new to TEDxCanberra. Twenty-one of the organisers from as far away as Perth and Christchurch came to Canberra, including extra days on the 8th to attend the TEDx regional organisers workshop. The audience comprised 328 females, 281 male and 48 unspecifieds. They had an average age of 34 across all attendees, with the youngest 11 and the oldest 73. Almost 40 students and low-income earners attended for free. And the 610 attendees, the 41 volunteers and the 16-person video crew brought TEDxCanberra together and did a great job. Again, I would like to give them my support.

Tuggeranong Community Festival

MR WALL (Brindabella) (5.08): I rise this evening to pay tribute to the organisers of and the participants in the 2013 Tuggeranong Community Festival. It has now been 25 years since the first festival was held. It does continue to grow bigger and better every year. The festival is the longest running in Canberra and owes much of its success to the community that supports it so well. Over 65 community groups, individuals, associations, clubs and businesses lend their support to ensure that the festival is a huge success each year. This year was no exception.

Besides the usual fun festival attractions such as rides, this year’s crowd was entertained by a vast array of performers, including the Celtic pipe and drum band, Tuggeranong Ukulele Gang, Christof the Clown, Impressions Dance and Fitness, Brother Be, McQuoid’s Offering, Metropolis, Glamourosas, Los Chavos, Lyndell Tutty, Brindabella Calisthenics College, Chinese cultural performers, Shakshuka, Brindabella Chorus, Canberra Men’s Choir, Bellyup Bellydance, Mexico Lindo, the Great Zamboni, as well as Mel’s Burlesque.

Some of the other attractions included the mascot parade, which is always a highlight of the festival. This year saw one of the largest gatherings of corporate and supporting mascots appearing at a single event in Canberra. It was also an opportunity for the annual Tuggeranong carpathon to be held, which is an opportunity for some friendly competition fishing and also an opportunity to reduce the number of an invasive pest from our waterways.

I would also like to acknowledge the generosity of all the sponsors, particularly the major sponsors, including the Tuggeranong Good Guys, ActewAGL, LJ Hooker Tuggeranong, Tuggeranong Hyperdome and the Vikings Group.

I would also like to acknowledge the significant contribution that Michael Linfield has made to the Tuggeranong festival over the past few years as well as the committee and the volunteers behind him. I would like to congratulate them all once again on a well-run and well-organised event. I look forward to seeing next year’s success.


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