Rebekha Sharkie (Mayo, Nick Xenophon Team) Share this | Hansard source

Like many in this chamber, I am counting the hours until I can head home, because Christmas has arrived in my community. There are so many carol nights, concerts, pageants and festivals it would be impossible to attend them all, but I would just like to highlight a few.

On Kangaroo Island, the Kingscote kindergarten is hosting its annual Christmas Tree Festival concert in the Kingscote Town Hall tonight. I wish I could be there.

We have carols in Penneshaw and a parade in Kingscote, carols by candlelight in Victor Harbor and carols at Port Elliot, and the South Australia Police band is holding a Christmas concert in Goolwa. The townships of Victor Harbor, Goolwa, Mount Compass and Strathalbyn will hold their pageants, while Normanville on the coast will hold a New Year's Eve parade, for something different. I will be attending the Mount Barker pageant this Saturday and I am looking forward to the Woodside and Lobethal pageants as well.

Every year we have more than 60 people coming to a very special event that I would like to mention. It is very close to my home. It is the Lights of Lobethal festival. We have people coming from all over Australia to visit our lights and our living nativity play put on by the local churches, featuring real sheep and a real baby in the manger.

I would like to thank all the volunteers in my community who will organise these special events that bring so much joy to so many this season, and I invite everyone in South Australia and, indeed, Australia to come to Mayo and enjoy our festive events this season.

See this speech in context