Page 3549 - Week 11 - Thursday, 24 September 2015

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I mention a few of our local athletes who have been successful. World individual qualifiers included Kira Muir, 15-plus age group; and Carl Bradbury, Gemma Steele, Hannah Bucklar and Kayley Simpson were all successful. Team world qualifiers were Hannah Bucklar, Kayley Simpson, Hayley Turner and Ella Winstanley. The overall age winners from the ACT were: Lucy Ovington in the under-7 age group and Kayley Simpson in the 13 years age group. Kira Muir won 15-plus and Ashleigh Rankin and Ella Cools were the 11 to 13-year-old pairs champions.

Jazzy Jumpers also entered a team in the group routine category in which a group of 10 skippers showcase a routine encompassing all skills choreographed to upbeat music. The routine goes for five to seven minutes and is one of the most highly anticipated events of the competition for the fun and light-hearted nature it brings. Jazzy Jumpers earned a silver medal for their performance this year.

I thank Belinda Winstanley from the Jazzy Jumpers for inviting me to attend the event, which, unfortunately, I was not able to attend, and for the opportunity to learn more about the sport. I think what this highlights is—this is something I am very keen on as the Minister for Sport and Recreation—that there are so many possible activities out there to get involved in. Sport does not need to be all about being in an elite pathway or being in one of the recognised sports; there are many sport and recreation activities for members of the community to be involved in. The sport of rope jumping is probably one that not many people know about as an active sport; they think of it as something that they do at the gym as a bit of a warm-up activity. But it highlights that we are lucky enough to live in a city where there are a range of activities to get involved in.

I encourage members of the community, no matter their age or their apparent sporting ability, to get out there and give things a go. Try some new things. Maybe rope jumping is the sport for you. If not, I would still encourage people to get out there and give something else a go.

Diamantina Scouts hall

Rotary Club of Belconnen

DR BOURKE (Ginninderra) (4.38): I rise tonight to tell the uplifting story of Kaleen’s Diamantina Scouts and the Rotary Club of Belconnen. Scouting in Canberra is very strong and diverse, giving our youth the chance to grow through new challenges, new friends, taking responsibility for themselves and exploring their own abilities and interests. Like many Canberra parents, I had the pleasure of having a young scout in the family and of serving as a volunteer office-holder. Last week I attended the official opening of the new Diamantina Scout hall in Kaleen. On that beautiful spring day it was festive and spirits were high. Yet five years ago vandals burnt down the old Diamantina hall, destroying it—and much of the troop’s memorabilia was also destroyed. Dispiriting as it was, to make matters worse, asbestos in the old ex-RAAF hut meant the costs of demolition and rebuild were more than the insurance covered.


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