CONSTITUENCY STATEMENTS
Ms RYAN (Lalor—Chief Government Whip) (09:33): Spring is happening all around Australia, but particularly in my electorate. Spring is definitely in the air, and I was pleased on 30 September to attend the Werribee Park National Equestrian Centre in the heart of the electorate in Werribee South for the Horseland Australian Interschool Championships. I was pleased to be invited.
The event is held over four days and sees riders from across Australia compete in dressage, eventing, jumping, show horse, all abilities and combined training. To be able to share Werribee South's grounds with over 450 young riders and 500 horses is something truly special. For those competing it was an opportunity at a national level to put their hard work into practice and meet like-minded people with love for their sport.
Behind every rider are families, coaches and supporters who help make their participation possible. I was pleased to join in the presentation and meet a few young riders at my visit. I was also pleased last week on Tuesday, 6 October, to celebrate the Lalor Sports Presidents Night, an annual event that pulls together our sporting champion grant recipients and their families; sports presidents from our clubs, associations and organisations; administrators; and volunteers who keep sport running in our communities.
This was a special occasion as always, and it reminds us how much our local clubs contribute and how important it is to recognise the people who keep them going. I was pleased to welcome Lalor's own three-time WNBL champion and Opal squad member Madison Rocci as our guest speaker for the evening. Having a local sporting role model share her experiences was a valuable reminder to young aspiring athletes of what dedication and perseverance can achieve, and to have her celebrated by people critically involved in sport across our community was also really special.
I presented our local sporting champions with their certificates and was grateful for the opportunity to celebrate their incredible achievements. To this year's recipients, congratulations! You've made our community proud, and I look forward to watching you continue to pursue your sporting goals.
On Wednesday evening, I got to attend an incredibly important event. It was an Arts Assist exhibition supported by Wyndham city council, the Melbourne Fringe Festival and locals, led by Melissa Lazaridis from the Arts Assist group. It was an exhibition called Here + Seen by visual artists with lived experience of intellectual disability and/or disabling neurodivergence.
What a pleasure! All of those artists touched our minds and our hearts with their beautiful personal expressions. It was an absolute pleasure to be there with 250 other locals to celebrate young people.
I thank the Saltwater Community Centre and their team for setting that exhibition up and for running it through to 3 December.