Janelle Saffin (Page, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yesterday two significant events took place in Page. I got to visit one—the annual all breeds show of the Casino Poultry Club Inc. at the Casino Showgrounds. Regretfully, I had to give my apologies to the Italian community’s Italian feast held last night at the Lismore City Bowling and Recreation Club, as I was travelling here. As patron of the Casino Poultry Club, I informed the secretary, Eric Rosolen, that I was delighted to look at and learn about all of the poultry, all of the fowl—Saxony bantam ducks and drakes, hard- and soft-feather Muscovy and Australian Langshans. The poultry really were truly beautiful fowl that were well cared for.

The wonderful Italian feast I missed was to aid the erection of a monument in recognition of the long presence of the Italian community in Lismore. The Northern Rivers Echo of 15 May 2008 states:

When Ellie Gava—

a key person from the Italian community in Lismore—

saw an ABC documentary on the history of Italians in Lismore, the words of the presenter stuck in her mind: “Italians have lived in Lismore for most of this century. Today, there is no evidence of their presence.”

I pledge support to both of these projects. (Time expired)