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

Casey is home to a thriving creative arts community and culture. As the son of an artist and a musician, I enjoy going to many community events where we celebrate the arts. Unfortunately, that skill set was not passed down to me, but it is a core part of who we are in Casey. It's also a large part of the healing and resilience of our community, particularly in the Dandenong Ranges, after the June storms of 2021.

I recently had opportunity to visit the YAVA Gallery & Arts Hub in Healesville, a volunteer organisation that does much in our community to celebrate the arts. I was there for the exhibition and book launch of The Tree of Ecstasy and Unbearable Sadness by Matt Ottley. It was an inspiring display of his journey through mental health challenges, and it was wonderful to speak to Matt. They've got exhibitions by painters, like Jo Caroll, Denise Smith and Clair Bremner. It's an open studio for anyone in the community to come and visit.

I also recently visited Dave Ferrier and the team at Treasuring Our Trees, another creative community organisation that came out of the tragedy that was the June 2021 storms. Dave is repurposing trees in many creative ways to help heal from that trauma.

I want to pay tribute to Gareth Hart, the outgoing Burrinja CEO, someone that I got to know over the last three years as the candidate and as the member for Casey. Gareth steered Burrinja through many challenges—through COVID and through the disasters of the June storms. He has played a key role in helping heal our community. I wish him well on his next journey. He's left a legacy in Casey. Thank you, Gareth.

Recently, I was at the Yarra Ranges Regional Museum, where we celebrated the opening of Stories of Giants. Emma Jennings, from Olinda, created this artistic opportunity to heal our community and pay tribute to people like Kalorama CFA captain Bill Robinson and the Emerald SES captain, Ben Owens, who gave so much and sacrificed so much in June 2021 to keep us safe. It was an emotional day, but it was an important day, as we continue to heal as a community. We know that the trauma that many experienced on that night, on that day and in the weeks subsequent will never leave us, but the artistic community of the Dandenong Ranges, of the Yarra Valley and all across Casey has played a key role in helping us continue to move forward. I want to pay tribute to them.

I recently had the opportunity to be at the book launch of Musings from a Poet called Gav, by my good friend Gav Smith from Soupees. He created Soupees to help those in need. His poems are inspirational. They cover a range of topics. It was great to buy a book, support Gav, support Soupees and congratulate him on the work he does for our community.

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