Kevin Hogan (Page, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In 1885, 150 years ago, Andrew Freeborn and his brother Thomas selected land at Duck Creek Mountain which later came to be known as Alstonville. The Alstonville community this year is celebrating this milestone with a year-long program of celebrations to mark the 150th anniversary. There are many events on over the 12 months. There is a bowls day at the Alstonville bowling club on Sunday, there is an anniversary dinner in September and there is obviously the Alstonville Show in October. But there are many events spread over the 12 months of this year where Alstonville is getting together to celebrate this marvellous occasion.

I would like to pay tribute to the Alstonville Plateau Historical Society and its officers—Ina Le Bas, Ian Kirkland, Liz Marshall, Perry Wells and Alison Draper—who have done a lot of research into this. I also pay tribute to the Alstonville Wollongbar Chamber of Commerce and Richard Lutze, the president. Ian Kirkland has done a lot of work personally on this.

I would also like to acknowledge the sponsors of the year-long celebrations who make this all possible: the Alstonville Plaza, Apex, Think Water Alstonville, Lions, Sarwood Timbers, the Alstonville Wollongbar Chamber of Commerce, Richmond Waste, SVM TV, Alstonville Tree Felling, the Federal Hotel at Alstonville, the Alstonville Plateau Bowls and Sports Club, Plateau Dental Care, Duraplas, Red Earth, the Ballina Shire Council and North Coast TAFE.