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

I would like to associate with the comments of my colleague the member for Mallee. Well said!

Today I would like to talk about Wodonga Arts Space, one of the many gems located in the heart of Indi, a community space, an arts space, a performance space and sometimes a meditative space. The arts space is supported by Wodonga Council and staffed by four wonderful staff and actively supported by two volunteers. Thank you, Jennifer, Stacey, Tom and Simone. Today I would like to talk about one of the volunteers, Lin Starke, and through her also to acknowledge Kath Thomas.

I asked Lin about her role in keeping the space open. Lin tells me she helps with the mail-out, distributes flyers around Wodonga and, as the gofer, does all sorts of odd jobs to support the paid staff. Lin tells me she loves the ambience of the arts space, the open space, the welcome given to visitors, and says that as volunteer she gets to experience the art, the exhibitions that usually rotate every four weeks and the two nationally travelling art exhibits that come to Wodonga. Lin has a Diploma of Visual Arts from Riverina TAFE and she is generous in sharing her skills, time and experience.

In closing, I would like to acknowledge and thank Wodonga Council for the support it gives to community arts, the work it does in community engagement and particularly for the opportunity it gives to volunteers to be involved in the arts industry.