Aaron Violi (Casey, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Happy birthday to the Warburton Valley CEDA. It was wonderful to be there last week to celebrate their 10th birthday. It was special occasion. The CEDA, over 10 years, have had more than 100 members and a regular program of events. It was great to be at Bulong Estate, in Yarra Junction, and I want to congratulate the president, Anna Tehan; the committee; and all the members for the great work that they do. The Warburton Valley CEDA and the township groups across Casey play such an important role in making sure that our communities are heard.

I was fortunate to, before politics, be the founding chair of the Lilydale Township Action Group, and it's nice, six years later, to see the work of Lilydale Township Action Group in running different events, engaging with the community and keeping people engaged. But so many groups in our community do that. They play a valuable role in making sure that I as an elected official can stay connected to them and can talk to them about what is happening in the community. As I like to say, Upwey and Belgrave might be four kilometres apart, but never tell anyone in Upwey that their issues are the same as those in Belgrave, because they are unique and special communities. Every town across Casey is unique and special, and the volunteers that represent the township groups, the economic development groups and the traders groups do such an important role in making sure their voices are heard, their issues are heard and the support that they need is given to them. They volunteer their time and they do it for nothing, so I say thank you to all those groups for the work they do in Casey.

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