Tuesday, 15 August 2023

 Paul MERCURIO (Hastings) (13:21): As a new member, I thought the winter break was a time we had a break, but in fact it is a wonderful opportunity to get out in the community, and I want to share a little bit of what I did. I had a tour of Cerberus navy base in Crib Point. I visited the Bittern and Baxter men’s sheds, attended a business lunch with the Treasurer at Cptn Jack’s in Somerville and gave a speech and raised the flag at the Willum Warrain for NAIDOC week. I opened the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art’s new exhibition by First Nations artists, called Between Waves, and represented the Premier at the finale of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. I had several briefings about the Port of Hastings and the wonderful opportunities being presented there, became a toy librarian for an hour and did a photo shoot with the new locally built pilot boat at Yaringa boat ramp.

I also had a fabulous visit to the Funky Farm in Hastings. I judged a cooking competition at Padua College and toured Bayside college and also Sparrow Early Learning Centre in Somerville. I reported on the upgrades of the play equipment at Olivia Way in Hastings and attended the playground opening at Yarralumla Reserve in Langwarrin. I met with various organisations from Frankston City Council, Blue Ribbon, Kindred Clubhouse, Mornington Peninsula council, Searoad Ferries, Peninsula Aero Club and Bunurong Land Council. I attended a citizenship ceremony and visited the Coolart historic homestead. I had morning tea with the federal member Peta Murphy and 100 local residents of Langwarrin. There was much, much more that I did, and I have to say I loved every minute being out and about, talking to my community about what matters to them. I thank them.