CONSTITUENCY STATEMENTS
Mr FRENCH (Moore) (10:16): Over recent months, I've had the privilege of meeting with people across Moore who represent the best of our community. I want to acknowledge two of them today. The first is Carmel Ward, a long-term Duncraig resident who was recently inducted as a Freeman of the City of Joondalup.
It is the highest honour the city can bestow, and, in Carmel's case, it is very well earned. For more than two decades, Carmel has given her time and care to our community. For nearly 13 years, she has mentored students at Greenwood College through EdConnect Australia and, more recently, through the Lions club.
She has worked with young people who have needed patience, encouragement and stability. It's the sort of contribution that does not always make headlines but can make a profound difference in a young person's life. Carmel has also been a central figure in Duncraig Lions club for 15 years, serving as president, secretary, youth of the year coordinator and in a range of other roles that usually mean being the person who makes things happen.
She has also contributed to the Marmion, Sorrento, Duncraig Progress and Ratepayers Association and is a founding member of the Friends of Duncraig Library Bushland. It is a serious record of service. Most people would consider one of those roles a major commitment.
Carmel appears to have taken on several just to be thorough. I also want to acknowledge Audrey Poor, the president of the Joondalup Encore Theatre Society, known as JETS. JETS was formed in 1999 and has been putting stories and people on stage for 26 years.
It has entertained local audiences, given performers a place to develop their craft and played an important role in community theatre in the northern suburbs. Audrey is a 24-year-old performer, writer and theatre maker, with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Notre Dame, where she majored in theatre and film studied. She became president of JETS in October 2024, with a clear aim: to bring the society back to life and re-engage Joondalup's creative community.
I recently attended the JETS production of Secret Life of Humans at the St Stephen's theatre in Duncraig. It was a reminder of the talent, creativity and commitment that exists in our local arts community. Audrey has also raised with me a serious issue for the performing arts in our community: the lack of accessible rehearsal and performance space in Joondalup and the surrounding suburbs.
Without reliable venues, local actors, writers, crew and volunteers are forced to move between inconsistent locations, uncertain times and limited resources. That makes it harder to build confidence, harder to attract volunteers and harder to grow a local creative community. For a city the size and importance of Joondalup, that is a challenge worth taking seriously.
Across Moore, I meet people like Carmel and Audrey, people from different generations, different fields and different parts of our community but with a common commitment to making our suburbs better.