Mary Aldred (Monash, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Recently, it gave me great pleasure to give national prominence to the Korumburra agricultural show, and I was back in South Gippsland over the weekend for a number of really important community events. That's where I get my riding instructions from—our local community, where I'm able to listen and act on their concerns.

On Saturday, I was at the South Gippsland Garlic Festival in Korumburra, where I joined Arawata Landcare members on gate duty, welcoming people from all over Victoria to our fantastic local garlic event. And I want to particularly acknowledge president Joel White, secretary Stephanie Anderton, treasurer Mark Aldren and committee member Melinda Griffith, as well as long-time community servants Andrew McEwen and Rowenna Ashley, who made the festival such a success.

I was also at the Foster Agricultural Show, one of our great regional agricultural shows. From the dog high-jump and the show jumping event—which I enjoyed as a teenager—to the ferret racing and the whip cracking, it was a great showcase of country skill, tradition and family fun.

I was also very pleased to attend the Mossvale music concert on Sunday before coming up to Canberra, where Jeremy and Julie Curtis, with the Leongatha Rotarians, Friends of Mossvale Park, the Mirboo North Community Bank and others, put in a huge effort to make this such a big success on behalf of the local community, where live music thrives and we're back to enjoying it again.

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