Event Photos

In 2002 as the CEO of Volunteering ACT, Mary Porter became aware of young people in their early years of high school becoming disengaged from their studies and subsequently dropping out of the education system.

In an endeavour to re-engage these young people, Mary sourced funding to trial the SPICE (Students Participating in Community Enterprise) program.

The young people were given the opportunity to select a trade that interested them and then volunteer employers were found to host them in the trades of their choice.

Generosity and community spirit are among the qualities that have earnt Vinh Do the ACT Tenant of the Month Award for September.

Mr Do came to Australia from Vietnam 15 years ago and has lived with his wife in their Belconnen home for the past 12 years.

Speaking at the morning tea with his neighbours to celebrate his Award Mary Porter said "Not only does he care for his wife who suffers an illness but he also provides support for two elderly Vietnamese neighbours providing interpreting services for them as well as doing odd jobs and gardening around their homes."

One of Canberra's smallest licensed clubs has been honoured with two major awards at the recent Clubs ACT Awards for Excellence. The Belconnen Bowling Club in Hawker received the Small Club Category Awards for both the Promotion of Sport and Community Assistance at the award ceremony held in the Auditorium at the Vikings Club in Erindale.

Since the announcement that the Government would rationalise the number of schools in Canberra, Mary Porter has been working with the communities in her electorate that may be affected to ensure the best possible social and educational outcomes for all children whose parents choose to have them educated in the public system.

"Doing nothing is not an option" Mary said, "we have been loosing 1% of students from the public sector for over a decade and if that trend continues there will be more students in the private sector than the public by 2010."

August 18 commemorated the 40th anniversary of the battle of Long Tan an event which saw 108 members of D Company, 6th battalion encounter a force of over 2,000 Viet Cong soldiers in a rubber plantation.

Over 3 hours and supported by deadly artillery fire, a daring RAAF helicopter ammunition resupply, and a relief force brought in by armoured personnel carrier, the men of D Company prevailed over the much larger force with 18 soldiers being killed and 24 wounded.

Belconnen based construction company Madison has been nominated for the prestigious National Telstra Business Awards and were recently recognised as ACT finalists in the 5 to 20 employee category at a function held in the Great Hall in Parliament House.

Madison are not strangers to awards having won or been finalists in almost 50 awards since their founding in 1986. These awards have included the winner of the 2004 HIA Small/Medium Builder of the Year and also the winner of 2004 MBA Display home of the Year.