Recently Mary attended the softball ACT State Awards dinner, held at the Woden Tradies Club.
The award ceremony provides an opportunity to recognise players and officials who have been selected to represent the ACT and Australia, as well as those who have excelled individually throughout the year.
The ceremony is also an opportunity to recognise the efforts of the many volunteers who work tirelessly to ensure that everything is in order for the athletes during the season.
Mary recently launched the 100 Volunteer Stories Campaign during the launch of the National Volunteer Week 2013, at the Australian War Memorial.
The 100 Volunteer Stories Campaign calls on the Canberra Community across all sectors to share their stories about their volunteer experience and how volunteering has contributed to the growth of our city and made it the caring and connected city it is today.
Mary once again joined Canberra motorcyclists who took to the roads for the 32nd Annual Blanket Run to support families in need of support this winter.
“The Blanket Run is a symbol of the goodwill that is demonstrated by how the motorcyclist community works when it comes together,” Ms Porter said.
“Every year hundreds of riders from around Canberra support this initiative, and the toy run in December, it was great to once again see so many people turning out and getting involved.”
Recently Mary joined several panellists at a Greening Australia forum up at the “centenary plantings” which celebrated ten years since the devastating Canberra bush fires in 2003.
“As you know, Greening Australia has been heavily involved in revegetating the Lower Cotter since the fires, working with thousands of volunteers from all walks of life in the community,” Mary said. “The Restoration Celebration honoured this huge volunteer effort that has seen over 300,000 native seedlings planted.
Recently Mary launched a book- Table Tennis in Canberra and Region- a History, written by Mr Arthur Wilks, a long-time resident of Canberra and a keen sport-person.
“As a published poet myself, I congratulate Arthur for writing this book,” Mary said.
“It is not only a fascinating read, but it also ensures that some of the intriguing stories of Canberra are preserved.
“Arthur is a long-time friend and has had many passions over the years, including sport, such as cricket and bocchi. However, the sport that has been his greatest passion is table tennis,” Mary stated
Last month Mary attended the Podmore Foundation Inc. Scholarship Presentation at the Royal Golf Club, where several young indigenous students from remote parts of Australia received scholarships to help them study in Canberra.
The Podmore Foundation Inc. is a non-for-profit organisation that involves a diverse group of Australians who want to create educational opportunities for others.
Recently Mary attended this year’s RSPCA’s Million Paws Walk launch. The walk will be held on Sunday 9 May.
“As you know, the Million Paws Walk is RSPCA’s annual fundraising event, which plays a critical role of supporting their ongoing work of providing shelter and of re-homing of domestic animals,” Mary said.
Apart from its work with domestic animals, the RSPCA also rescues and cares for injured wildlife, investigates allegations of cruelty, provides input to the development of legislation and plays a critical role in raising community awareness about animal welfare.
Last month Mary joined the Minister for Sport and Recreation, Mr Andrew Barr MLA, at the official opening of the Kippax Enclosed Oval Redevelopment.
The $3 Million redevelopment of the oval was made possible by several sporting clubs pooling their resources.
“This project is an outstanding example of what is able to be achieved when government and community work together,” Mary said.
Mary recently officially opened Peter Sterns’ “Our Beautiful Country” art exhibition at the Strathnairn Homestead Gallery.
Originally from Latvia, Peter has lived in Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic (then Czechoslovakia), before joining his father in Australia in1956.
“Peter is very inspired by the Australian Landscape, and this is evident in his art, which vividly portray the affection he feels for his adopted home,” Mary said. “The images strikingly capture the many moods of the Australian bush and demonstrate the wide range of landscapes in this country.”
Earlier last month Mary visited the Melba Copland College, where she met with student members of the Melba Copland Secondary School’s- F1-In-Schools team.
“I was happy to respond to an invitation by a student- Mr Josh Goyne, who approached me at the Melba Copland College graduation event,” Mary said.