Lisa Chesters (Bendigo, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to acknowledge some of the many wonderful things that happened in my electorate of Bendigo over the weekend. Let's start with the Heritage Uncorked event that happened on Friday night. Over 200 people sampled and celebrated the very best of Bendigo wine. What also occurred on the weekend was the absolutely wonderful play that was put on, called Us. Bendigo playwright Margaret Hickey wrote the play, and it was directed by Matt Emond. It starred Sally-Anne Upton. This was a beautiful play consisting of a series of monologues based upon characters and observations from Ms Hickey, which she had picked up when she grew up in Bendigo. There was also a bike-riding competition as well as a netball competition, just some of the many events that occurred in our town over the weekend. There was also the Bendigo farmers market, which sold out of much of its local produce.

These are the great things that happened in our town. We got on with doing what we do so well in Bendigo. This is who we are a people. I urge people not to give up on Bendigo and not to judge us on what may have been on their TVs on Saturday night. Our town is a great town. It is an inclusive town; it is a town that celebrates its diversity. It is a great place to come, whether it be for the arts—and the other great announcement that we had was about the Marilyn Monroe exhibition that will be at the Bendigo Art Gallery—to see a play like Us, for the many sporting events that happen in our town or for our great foodie culture. Bendigo is a fun, diverse place, and I encourage everybody to believe in Bendigo.

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