Tuesday, 26 November 2024

 Chris COUZENS (Geelong) (13:20): The Allan Labor government continues to support major events in our beautiful city of Geelong, delivering economic benefits and lots of fun and entertainment. Let me tell you about some of them.

Over this past weekend we saw thousands of people lining the Geelong waterfront for the much-loved annual Geelong Revival Motoring Festival, watching the classic spring cars, the motor show and the vintage fashion event.

On 7 December the Matildas versus Chinese Taipei will be at Kardinia Park. The Matildas playing in regional Victoria provides an opportunity for fans, particularly girls, to watch their idols live, many for the first time. Soccer is a fast-growing sport in the Geelong region, evidenced by the take-up of the tickets.

In January 2025 we will see the annual Festival of Sails, which is on track for a record-breaking regatta, with more than double the regatta entries compared to last year. It is great to have Nic Douglass, also known as ‘Sailor Girl’, as the 2025 ambassador. Nic will broadcast from the Screen on the Green, a new activation designed to make the festival even more immersive for spectators.

As the 2025 Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race gears up, it was great to join Cadel to announce a new ambassador for the race, Paris Olympic gold medallist Grace Brown. Grace will lead the people’s ride of 3000 cyclists of all ages and abilities on the same course as their elite cycling heroes.