Event Photos

On 29 June Mary opened the Giralang Primary School Aboriginal Art Exhibition as part of the NAIDOC week celebrations which takes place annually in July. On display was Indigenous art which had been created by the students under the watchful eye of Mr. Duncan Smith, a prominent Wiradjuri artist.

Art is an important aspect of the Indigenous cultures, and it is important that young people understand the wonderful diversity and powerful stories that Indigenous people have to tell.

Mary, along with Volunteering ACT, has called for 650 volunteers to help stage the 2009 UCI Mountain Bike and Trials Championships, this September 1 to 6, at Stromlo Forest Park.

With the World Mountain Bike Championships expected to attract 40,000 people, several hundred journalists from across the world and an estimated TV and online audience of 30 to 35 million people, the event presents a fantastic opportunity to show case Canberra.

Recently Mary Porter launched a photographic exhibition exploring the beauty and uniqueness of Taiwan, at Civic Library.

The exhibition, which was the result of a partnership between the ACT Government and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, featured 30 photographs that showed Taiwan’s natural beauty and exciting city living.

Representing the Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Ms Porter stated that the photo exhibition ‘Enchanting Taiwan’ was a great opportunity to mark the partnership between the ACT
Government and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office.

Mary Porter attended a tree planting ceremony at the Mexican Embassy’s gardens where the Embassy contributed to the UNEP´s goals and also to this city’s wonderful landscape by planting a Magnolia tree.

Mary said that “Mexico is the official host country for the United Nations World Environment Day 2009, and is internationally promoting the Billion Tree Campaign by planting trees in its Embassies and Consulates worldwide,”.

Mary officiated at the launch of Public Education Week celebrated in May at the Canberra Institute of Technology’s Reid Campus.

“Public Education Week is a good opportunity for us to remind ourselves about the great benefits that quality education provides,” Mary said. “Access to a good education is a right we tend to take for granted, but is invaluable for both individuals and society as a whole.”

“The ACT Government is committed to ensuring every ACT student in every ACT school can develop to their full potential.”

Winter is upon us, and we all know Canberra is getting cold. Especially now we think about those who struggle to make ends meet and keep themselves and their families warm and fed. Every year the Motorcycle Riders Association ACT organises the Motorcyclists’ Blanket Run to help make a difference. Mary has been riding pillion with Peter Major on the Run for a number of years now. Peter is one of the driving forces and the voice of the event which has been running for 28 years.

Mary Porter AM MLA, Member for Ginninderra, helped launch the Migrant and Refugee Settlement Services Open Day.

The Migrant Resource Centre and Settlement Services, MARSS, is very important in welcoming and assisting migrants and refugees to settle in the Canberra community, and recently Mary was happy to speak at its Open Day.

“When I first came to this country as a child, no such service was available. It is wonderful to see how people are now welcomed and supported through those early weeks and months.” Mary commented.

Recently Mary launched the Most of a Fresh Food Market Tour Manual whilst touring the Belconnen Fresh Food Markets with students from Macquarie Primary School.

“This is one way to give children an interactive and exciting learning experience about all types of fresh food, but particularly about fruit and vegetables,” Mary said.

Recently Mary chaired a series of interschool debates in the Legislative Assembly.

“It is important that our young people have this opportunity to learn more about the political process in the ACT, and get a grasp on Australia’s democratic system”, said Mary.

Whilst inspecting progress on the new horticultural facility during March, Mary congratulated the Canberra Institute of Technology on its commitment to sustainability not only at its Bruce campus but across all programs.

“CIT has moved to recognise the demand from our community and industry for the need to deliver vocational education and training in sustainability. The CIT now offer four specific qualifications in the areas of renewable energy, ecology and environmental management; and sustainability,” Mary commented.