Rob Mitchell (McEwen, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Well, as the member for Goldstein was home, sooking about having to work four days this week, on the weekend we were celebrating the Whittlesea Show. The Whittlesea Show has been going since 1859, and it's run by a great bunch of volunteers who deliver a fantastic show that's close to Melbourne but gives you all the elements of a country show and all the elements of a fair.

Every community group is there, whether they're selling food or goods or even just presenting animals. Of course, you get the custom—you've got to have a wood-chop at a good show. There are the vintage machines, the cars. Whatever you want, there is something there. The SES and the CFA put on some fantastic examples. The Whittlesea Men's Shed and Whittlesea Women's Shed were also heavily involved, selling their wares or just opening their doors so that people could see what great organisations they are. Wherever you looked across the showground, it was just a fantastic day. You had kids on horses and kids on motorbikes; there was the grand parade—a whole heap of things happening. No matter what you were into, whether it be crafts, photography, history or whatever, there was something there for everyone.

This show, as I said, has been going since 1859. It was the Labor Party's 23rd year of being at the show. Our Liberal mates haven't been there for 16 years, but we still turn up, rain, hail or snow.

I want to congratulate President Jayson Munro, Vice President Celina Mott, Secretary Wally Mott and of course Treasurer Sarah Foggie, who just put this whole thing together, with a bunch of volunteers. It really just shows how great it is to live in the seat of McEwen and why we love it so much.

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