Page 205 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 14 December 2016
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The other community event that I particularly want to mention is the Lifeline fun run, which took place around Lake Burley Griffin on Saturday, 5 November. There were nearly 1,000 participants on the day, including me, although, having just come out of the election campaign, my fitness was somewhat sketchy; nonetheless it was great to participate.
Mr Hanson: Excuses!
MR RATTENBURY: Exactly. It is an excuse, I know; nonetheless it was true. The time that I ran the 10 kilometres in is a clear testament to that.
This event was first held a couple of years ago on Majura Parkway. What I am really pleased about is that it is not just an event for runners; the many walkers and joggers are very welcome at this family event, now being held, as I said, on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin. It is a real community-spirited event but with a serious message behind it as well, in seeking to raise vital funds for Lifeline.
It is an event which helps them to continue to meet their ever-increasing demand for crisis support and suicide prevention services. I would like to thank all of those people who turned up and participated, and who spent money on entering the race, which went to that very worthy charity. This year the event was supported by Icon, and I thank them for their support of that event. I would also like to congratulate the team at Lifeline and the new race director, Brad Edge, on their organisation of the event. It ran very smoothly, despite the fact that unusually in Canberra at 6.30 in the morning there were extremely strong winds and many of the tents were being blown away at the time. To all the volunteers who helped out on the day, thank you for your contribution as well. I look forward to the event taking place again in 2017.
Tara Costigan Foundation
MR PARTON (Brindabella) (6.06): I had the great pleasure of attending the launch of a fundraising calendar for the Tara Costigan Foundation last night at the Rex Hotel. I thank my good friend Michael Costigan for all the work that he is doing with the foundation.
When we learnt the news of Tara’s untimely and brutal death, I think we all shed tears, each and every one of us. Our youngest daughter, Anna, was a classmate of young Riley Costigan. Tara had been in to the school for a show and tell with the new bub in the days prior to the tragedy. So for our youngest, in particular, the incident really hit home drastically. I think every person in this city cried. There were those of us who cried, but there were others who also found the strength to do something about an ongoing situation which is untenable for a civilised country such as ours. I commend the work of the Tara Costigan Foundation. I would like to note that this eye-opening calendar—because it is a bit of an eye-opener—is retailing around town for a bargain $25. It is the Holly Boudoir calendar, supporting the Tara Costigan Foundation. Well done to photographer Holly Franklin, who is carving out quite a niche for herself as a photographic artist.
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