Cathy McGowan (Indi, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise today to congratulate the Pangerang Community House art students on the diverse and colourful art exhibition opened on Friday, 24 October at the Wangaratta Library. Everybody should be very proud of the work on display, and the exhibition had a real community warmth. Thanks also to the Pangerang House coordinator, Tanya Grant, for the invitation to join the 40 artists, family and friends, and officially to open the exhibition. It was a pleasure to meet the artists, including Cassie Hurley and her granddaughter Tahlia, Carmel Fitzpatrick, Marie Vincent, Richard Gray, Bianca Paola, Maria Hausler, Brenda Thompson and Barbara Pearce.

I particularly want to thank youngsters Mabel O'Keeffe and her brother Harvey for showing me the portraits that they had done of me. Their involvement showed how the Pangerang Community House arts and craft program caters for people of all ages and pays particular attention to young people. Thanks to the art teacher Robynne for guiding and encouraging the students to push their talent and artistic boundaries. The different styles, such as blind contour, opened up a whole new avenue for creativity for those who tried it. Congratulations everybody, well done, and thank you very much for the invitation to participate.