I recently added the final touch to the ACT's official Christmas tree, placing the star at the top.

This was no mean feat given that the tree, currently in Civic Square, is twenty-one metres tall. That's just a little over three stories.

November 2006 already and I have just passed the half way mark in my first term as a Member for Ginninderra. I am sure many will be turning their minds to Christmas and holiday plans perhaps. I am looking forward to the next 2 years representing you and continuing to work hard to make a difference in our community.

"It's been a while since I have had an opportunity to update my news on my website my apologies for that. Since I last updated the information on my various activities, outside of the Chamber and Committee work, I have chaired the Select Committee on Estimates and had several weeks of sitting, during which the ACT 2006 Budget was introduced, debated and passed.

Mary in Malta - April 2006

It's been a while since my last entry, and I apologise.

The first few months of the year have been busy ones in the Assembly with highly critical legislation being debated and passed.

Chief Commissioner Scouts ACT Neville Tomkins with Mary at the launch of the Scouts Leadership driveScouts ACT has the fastest growing membership of any region in the country.

However the number of young people becoming involved hasn’t been matched by people keen to become Scouts leaders. In order to overcome this, Scouts ACT have launched a recruiting drive and the "Have the time of your life! Become a Leader.......if you dare" brochure is part of that marketing program.

The brochure was designed by Scouts ACT Development Officer, Peter Harris and was produced with the assistance of local firm Multilocus Interactive, with financial support from the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation.