Last month Mary opened an expanded and revamped community care centre at the Canberra Christian Life Centre (CCLC) in Charnwood, which coincided with the Anti -Poverty Week in the ACT.
“I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the
Canberra Christian Life Centre for providing these services in the community,” Mary said, “and in doing so, helping more than seven thousand people each year.”
Mary congratulates this year’s Volunteer of the Year Award Mr. Neal Francis Miller for his outstanding service to the community through his involvement with the Lions Club of Canberra Belconnen.
Neal started his association with the Lions Club in July 1996 and has served with distinction since that date. His dedication has earned him several Lions Medals and certificates of achievements.
Mary believes it is a privilege to be Patron of the Belconnen Bowling Club, an active, community run club which not only provides its members with an opportunity for recreation, competition and social activities, but also takes its role as part of the wider community very seriously.
This year’s theme for the National NAIDOC Week celebrations is Unsung Heroes – Closing the Gap by Leading the Way.
Mary said, “It’s important to recognise the many Indigenous people who are working as volunteers behind the scenes as well as those in front line positions such as our armed forces, Police and Emergency Services”.
She also took the opportunity to commend the Australian Government for the Indigenous Cadetship Support initiative (ICS), which aims at improving professional employment prospects of Indigenous Australians.
Once again Mary showed her support for the Motorcycle Riders Association Blanket Run by riding with Peter Major and approximately 500 motorcyclists in the MRA annual run from Old Parliament House to Garema Place in Civic.
“The MRA annual Blanket Run has been providing blankets, warm clothing, non-perishable food and money to Canberrans in need for the past 30 years,” Mary said. “Each year the blanket run is held in May, just before the onset of winter in the capital which can impose an additional burden on those who are doing it tough,” she added.
Recently Mary opened the third National Park Association (NPA)
symposium at the CSIRO Discovery Centre.
The symposium, titled “National Parks- can they take the heat?” was the third in a series which NPA ACT held, as part of NPA ACT’s 50th anniversary celebrations in 2010, aimed at promoting public support for sound scientifically-based decisions in park management and resourcing.
Recently Mary visited the ACT Government’s Domestic Animal Service (DAS) to talk to the staff and volunteers about their work in caring for the abandoned and neglected dogs.
The service pleasingly re-homes on average 96% of the 13, 260 animals that are surrendered into their care in any calendar year. Sadly though some animals, because of the way they have been treated by their previous owners, are not suitable to be re-homed.
Mary congratulates the staff and volunteers on the wonderful work they do in caring and training the dogs.
On April 21st Mary launched the RSPCA’s Million Paws Walk, to be held at Commonwealth Park on 16th May 2010 from 11:00 am.
This annual fundraising event is now in its 16th year and is crucial in supporting the ongoing work of the RSPCA
“The RSPCA is well-known to many Canberrans through its rescue, shelter and re-homing of domestic animals,” said Ms Porter.
Mary’s long awaited Retirement Village Legislation is to be tabled in the first sitting week of May as an Exposure Draft.
You may recall that Mary commenced consultation on this proposed
legislation as long ago as late 2006.
The need for the legislation was identified after a number of
representations were made to Mary in relation to the growing number of retirement villages in the ACT, some of which are now managed by
bodies outside of the ACT where legislation already exists.
Fifteen years ago Connections was established. It’s a program which provides support to people living with a mental illness through a volunteer “buddy” program.
Mary was part of the steering committee that preceded its formation and was CEO of Volunteering ACT when it was put under Volunteering ACT management and enjoyed attending its 15th birthday celebrations.