Anne Urquhart (Braddon, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Despite wild weather in the lead-up to the event, the skies cleared just in time and the community turned out in force with gumboots on and spirits high for the 2025 Tulip Festival in Wynyard. This festival began in 1991, born from the pride the Wynyard community felt in the breathtaking beauty of the region. What started as a small local celebration has blossomed, quite literally, into a nationally recognised event, drawing tens of thousands of visitors each year. Over the past 33 years, we've seen the festival grow in scale and significance, with only one pause in 2020 due to COVID, which is an amazing result. Last year alone, Wynyard welcomed an estimated 20,000 people. That's a testament to the enduring appeal of the festival and the tireless work of the Waratah-Wynyard Council, staff, volunteers and stallholders, who make it all happen. This year's festival was made even more special by the presence of guest ambassadors MasterChef runner up from Smithton, Josh "Pezza" Perry, and Hannah Moloney, a host of ABC TV's Gardening Australia. Here's to 33 years of the Wynyard Tulip Festival, and I look forward to seeing everyone again in 2026 for the 34th year!

A week ago I attended a birthday party. That's not all that revolutionary; however, this was a combined 150th birthday for the township of Penguin and 50th birthday for the giant three-metre high penguin that sits on the foreshore. The town of Penguin, nestled beside the sea on the north-west coast in Braddon, had the biggest and best birthday party that I've ever been to. The Penguin 150 Street Party was the highlight of the year of festivities to celebrate the birthday of the town. There was live music, food stalls, local markets, entertainment and a lot of community spirit, capped off with a fabulous show of fireworks. The main street was closed off so it was safe to roam, and the street was abuzz with crowds, prams, children, dogs and people enjoying the sunshine and the atmosphere. For the occasion, Australia Post developed a special stamp collection with the Big Penguin and a specially minted dollar coin with the Big Penguin on the face.

A huge congratulations goes to the committee members, the volunteers, the performers, the stallholders and everyone who worked so hard to make all of the wonderful events such a success. I echo the words of many who spoke: this is all about community. It's about knowing and watching out for your neighbours. The events this year really let the spirit of this fabulous little community shine through. I want to again congratulate the small community of volunteers who worked really hard to put on such a fabulous event for not just the Penguin town but the entire north-west region.

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