CONSTITUENCY STATEMENTS

Mr GEE (Calare) (10:30): Today I rise to celebrate the extraordinary community of Wellington. Last Friday Wellington was alive, and it was an immense privilege to attend two great events that highlight the very best of Wellington, beginning with the magnificent Fong Lees Lane Festival. An event of this scale takes immense dedication, and I acknowledge the hardworking team from Wellington Arts Centre, including the president, Lisa Thomas, and event coordinator Emily Falson.

The team at Wellington Arts did an extraordinary job in bringing this great festival to life. Special thanks go to Ron and Debbie Goninon for bringing the Chinese lucky dragon to life, Jared Wykes Electrical for hanging the iconic umbrellas, and local business and landowners, including the generous Dowton family, Kylie and her team at Four Cats Cafe, Sue and Tony Colbert for opening up their spaces, and Wellington Soldiers Memorial Club for donating the food for the Chinese stalls.

Thanks also go to the many local sponsors and media partners, like Binjang Community Radio—well done to Tony Graham—and the Wellington & District Leader—well done, Griggsy and Sharon. This festival goes back to 2018, when local artist Natacha Richards and a passionate group of volunteers set out to awaken the spirit of Wellington's old Chinatown, and they transformed a quiet passageway that once led to Fong Lee & Co., which was a historic Gold-Rush-era department store.

This year's festival brought perfect weather and huge crowds. On Friday evening we also celebrated the opening of the Wellington Amateur Theatre Society's new refurbished premises at 31 Warne Street. WATS, as it's known, has a proud history going back to 1910, bringing together farmers, shearers, schoolkids—the whole community—for amateur theatre, bringing wonderful productions to Wellington.

I thank the team from WATS, including secretary and project manager Rosalee Whiteley for her relentless drive. They have transformed the Wellington Amateur Theatrical Society's space. I also congratulate president Julie Hancock, treasurer Teresa Johnson, and all of the team at WATS.

We also acknowledge the late, great Noel Grimes, who helped to purchase the hall in 1990. He did so much for WATS—he was a veteran of the Battle of Long Tan and is no longer with us, but he was acknowledged there on Friday night. I thank the team at Wellington Amateur Theatrical Society.

The productions just keep getting bigger and better, and they have been going for many years now. It really brings the community together, and it was an absolute privilege to be sharing the joy at WATS on Friday night.