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

The seaside town of Penguin on Tasmania's north-west coast is turning 150 this year in October. Through the year there have been many events to celebrate this occasion. Penguin was officially proclaimed a town in 1875, although settlers had arrived as early as 1861, drawn to the area by timber and spectacular farmlands. In March, hundreds of us—and I joined in—from all along the coast dressed up in Penguin suits and masks and participated in the Great Penguin Waddle. It was a lot of fun. In April there was the Penguin Egg-Stravaganza, a huge Easter egg hunt, lawn games and painted penguin rookeries from the Antarctica exhibition in Hobart.

Coming up in September there are two events: one to celebrate the legacy of the Lette sisters, who were instrumental in the town's early development, and the Penguin Cemetery Walk, to learn about the town's forbears. In October there's a huge street party scheduled, and I'm anticipating going along to that. I want to congratulate the small group of organisers who have very successfully put together the Penguin 150, putting this little piece of paradise on the map and celebrating the 150th birthday of Penguin.