Thursday, 4 May 2023

Pakenham electorate community events

Emma VULIN (Pakenham) (09:59): I have been very busy in the Pakenham electorate since I was last in this place five weeks ago. I visited Have a Little Hope, who moved into their new space. They are a wonderful organisation who assist the local community in times of need. I popped into the Pakenham and Officer fire brigades, who were out on Good Friday collecting money for the Royal Children’s Hospital appeal. I attended several iftar events and an Eid breakfast with our Islamic community. I joined the Vaisakhi celebrations at Officer gurdwara with my dear friends and at Koo Wee Rup gurdwara a few weeks later.

Pakenham SES held a Women in Rescue training day, which saw women from all over the state attend to be part of training demonstrations. Cardinia library hosted Let’s Brick Pakenham, a fantastic event. It was lots of fun building Lego trains with some very creative children who were having a great time in their school holidays.

I joined the Minister for Early Childhood and Pre-Prep to visit Konewark integrated child and family centre, located next door to Kurrun Primary School, which will make drop-off and pick-up easier for parents. We also partook in the sod turn for a new Toun-nun integrated child and family centre in Officer.

Pakenham, Officer and Upper Beaconsfield all hosted moving Anzac Day services. The huge turnout for this year’s services was great to see.

I had the honour of declaring the new learning spaces funded by the Labor state government open at Lakeside College in Pakenham.

Lastly, I also visited the United African Farm in Cardinia, where members of African descent are bridging the intercultural and intergenerational gap. Thank you to Thuch and Mama for having me.