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Mary Porter has launched a new publication to help schools devise ways to plan fundraising activities that support the health and well-being of students.

"For many school communities knowing where to go for healthy ideas for fundraising activities can be very challenging and quite often they resort to the easy options likes sweets and doughnuts," Mary commented.

Many schools turn to food when they are raising funds for projects, but due to a lack of alternatives they tend to rely on unhealthy products.

Now in its 70th year, the ACT Training Excellence Awards recognise the efforts and achievements of all those involved in vocational education and training.

The awards celebrate the success of apprentices, trainees and vocational students, as well as the teachers, Group Training Organisations and employers who have supported them in their training.

Our future economic growth and prosperity rely on a skilled workforce and on providing Canberrans with flexible pathways to employment, promotion and further education.

Long-time Holt residents Carlos and Jose Smitz recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary by renewing their wedding vows at a celebration with family and friends.

Carlos and Jose migrated from their native Belgium settling in Canberra June 1961. They were among the original Holt residents moving to their new home in 1971, where they raised their family and still live.

"It is obvious to us all that Carlos and Jose have a great love for each other and being at the 50th was a very special occasion," commented Mary.

NAIDOC Week is the culmination of a long history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander effort to bring their issues of concern to the attention of Governments and the general public.

From 1924 many attempts had been made to establish a national day, and in 1957 the National Aborigines' Day Observance Committee(NADOC) was formed with the support of State and Federal Governments, the churches and major Aboriginal organisations.

Mary also hosted a reception in the Legislative Assembly for artists of the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Land in South Australia.

A diverse range of works was exhibited including textiles, fibre, ceramics as well as an exhibition of photographs taken by young indigenous people from central Australia.

"Having worked in remote indigenous communities in the top end for well over a decade as a volunteer nursing sister, I have many fond memories of the time I spent living with Aboriginal people" Mary recalled.

Mary Porter and former Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett, may not agree on many things. However, they are certainly of like mind when it comes to seeing depression as a major health issue.

Mr Kennett recently met with members of the Legislative Assembly and their staff in his capacity as the Chairman of beyondblue.

beyondblue was established by Mr Kennett to raise the awareness of depression in our society and also to increase the recognition and responses to depression in Australia as a serious health problem.

More than a decade ago Mary Porter saw the need to establish a community-based organisation to provide training for those working in the human services area.

Traditionally, those employed in this field were women with little formal qualifications but having a tremendous amount of experience.

With a group of like-minded people, Mary established TRAHCS becoming its founding chair, a position she held until her election to the Legislative Assembly.

Mary recently joined other volunteers to help revegetate the Lower Cotter Catchment. The volunteers from Greening Australia planted native trees and grasses along Sinclairs Circuit. The work is supported by the ACT Government.

The planting site drains into the Cotter River just before it flows into the Cotter Dam, so will directly impact on the quality of Canberra's water supply.

A couple of days after the planting the area received some good soaking rain which should ensure a high survival rate.

ACTION bus drivers have held another dinner dance and auction and raised $14,000 for the ACT Eden-Monaro Cancer Support Group and Australia's Helping Hand.

The committee, comprising Lindsay and David McMurdo, Peter Maggs, Julia Taylor and Carl Pillig are all ACTION employees and were joined by former ACTION staff member Greg Bayliss, to organise the function at the Deakin Soccer Club.

The ACT Eden-Monaro Cancer Support Group manager, Mark Green, said all the funds they received would be used to assist cancer patients and their families in the Canberra/Queanbeyan region.