Part of the privilege of being a member of Parliament is dealing with an
extremely wide range of issues and a wide range of groups within our communities. An
afternoon’s activities can range from handling early childhood issues and access
to technology and presenting school prizes to formally opening synthetic greens
at bowls clubs. Each and every one is as important as the next.
The Macarthur Bowls Club, with its new synthetic turf, knows it
has at least 15 years of good bowling ahead without worrying about the high cost
of maintenance or placing increased pressure on our precious water resource. But
it is testimony to the strength of smaller communities such as Macarthur which
has shown it knows the importance of such a facility and has been able to raise
$60 000 and receive a further $60 000 from the Brumby Labor government to bring
about a new community asset. It was heartening for me to see once again the
determination of seniors in our community to bring about renewal in their
sporting clubs, and in this case the Macarthur Bowls Club.
I wish to thank the club for their very warm hospitality last
Monday and their good humour as they watched me attempt to bowl. I particularly
wish to thank Mr Phil Burton, president of the Macarthur Bowls Club, Ms Carol
Uebergang, ladies president, Mrs Isabel Macpherson, secretary, and Mrs Mary
Millard, the project officer and driving force behind converting the existing
turf green to a synthetic surface and who placed the first jack that afternoon.