Out and About

On 15th February, Mary hosted one of three proposed sessions aimed at consulting with key community groups in relation to a draft policy to increase synergies between local schools and community sporting groups.

“Sport should not be considered only as a source of national pride- it also plays an important role in building stronger communities and in promoting healthy lifestyles, contributing to the well-being of all Australians, and of course all Canberrans,” Ms Porter said.

On 5th February Mary opened a visual art exhibition, Honey & Pepper: Inspiration can come from anywhere. This is where it lives, at the Belconnen Arts Centre

“Canberra is a thriving city with many people from all over the world who now call Australia home,” Mary said. “The six artists whose work that was exhibited were born overseas. Their art illustrates how Canberra is enriched by its diverse and multicultural community, exploring issues of identity, belonging and place,” she added.

In late 2004 Mary was one of a group of concerned people who formed a steering committee which started to explore the possibility of establishing a community owned health co-operative in West Belconnen that was to provide bulk billing, allied health and well-being services.

The impetus was the lack of General Practitioner services for six suburbs in West Belconnen, with a population of 22,000, and subsequent pressure on the nearest Emergency Department at Calvary Hospital and the pharmacist in Charnwood.

Recently Mary presented Awards at the Tenants’ Art Show.

Each year, the art show competition provides a fantastic opportunity for public and community housing tenants to express their creativity and for the wider Canberra community to enjoy their creations.

The art exhibition, featuring the work of Canberra’s most creative public and community housing tenants, is the highlight of 2009 International Tenants Day celebrations in the capital. The theme for this year’s event, celebrated on October 5, was ‘Tenants Make our City’.

Whilst work places can be the setting for defining moments in an individual’s career, it is not often that an employer can say that she presided over an event that has profound meaning in the life of an employee. Recently Mary did exactly that.

“It was a very special occasion for one of my advisers, Charles Njora,” Mary said. “He will always remember Friday, 25 September 2009 as the day that he became an Australian citizen.”

Charles was born in Kenya and arrived in Australia in 2001. He has been working for Mary since May.

Recently Mary officially launched RSPCA Awareness Week in the ACT.

All of us who own or have owned animals understand the special relationship between people and animals and the joy they bring to our lives. RSPCA Awareness Week helps us to celebrate this bond and to also raise awareness of the valuable community services that the RSPCA provides every day.

This year the focus was on wildlife and the natural environment and the role RSPCA plays in caring for wildlife when they are in trouble.

Mary recently said a special “thank you “ to the 130 library volunteers at an event held for all of those who have so generously provided their services to the community free of charge.

“I wanted to extend my gratitude to all the volunteers who work in and for our ACT Public libraries in appreciation of the invaluable assistance they provide,” Mary said.