Kristy McBain (Eden-Monaro, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

With Christmas less than a month away, I've got the perfect Christmas present idea just for you. The Goulburn Monopoly game is now available for purchase, showcasing local heritage, recreational, cultural and environmental features of the Goulburn community, whether that's roses in Victoria Park, barefoot bowling at the bowlo, the town's heritage buildings or the roar of cars at One Raceway—whatever you do; just try not to go straight to Goulburn supermax!

The limited-edition Monopoly game is raising money for Southern Tablelands Community Foundation and can be purchased online or at the Goulburn Visitor Information Centre, Top Shot photography, Bi-Rite or the Big Merino. And keep a lookout for Bungendore's Monopoly game, which is also being released in time for Christmas—launched by and raising money for the Bungendore Rotary Club. Well done to all involved in these brilliant ideas, and happy Christmas shopping.

I'd like to celebrate Cindy Chawner from Cobargo, who has been named to represent Australia at the Invictus Games in Vancouver next year. Growing up, Cindy loved getting active, participating in swimming, running and a number of team sports. She joined the Royal Australian Air Force in 1999, initially as a Reserves operation officer and later serving most of her career as a personal capability officer. She was deployed to the Middle East in 2010 and was medically discharged in June last year. Despite facing a range of physical and mental health challenges, Cindy has demonstrated her remarkable resilience and will be competing in a number of events in the Invictus Games. Well done. We look forward to you representing our community and our country on the world stage.

I want to congratulate Charlotte Wood, originally from Cooma, on her outstanding literary achievement. Charlotte has become the first Australian since 2014 to be shortlisted for the prestigious Booker Prize, for her novel Stone Yard Devotional. The novel follows an unnamed woman who leaves her marriage and city life to live in an enclosed religious community on the Monaro plains, near where Charlotte herself grew up. Charlotte completed much of her first draft whilst in lockdown. After that, she and her sisters were all diagnosed with breast cancer within weeks of each other. I'm happy to report that they've all beaten that. Although Charlotte didn't come away with the Booker Prize, her resilience and talent have resonated deeply with readers from across the world.

I'd like to congratulate Eden-Monaro's Cooma Monaro Race Club on receiving, for the second year in a row, the Racing NSW award for outstanding achievement. The club began in 1856, when its first members finally gained a licence to meet and race horses at Ti Tree flat. Although the location, the members and the names have all changed over time, the core idea of fostering camaraderie through the excitement of horseracing remains. The club has consistently hardworking members who deliver high-quality competitions and race meetings. Their efforts draw thousands of people to our community, supporting local business. It is such an excellent standard at the Cooma racecourse, too, for the Cooma Cup. I extend my congratulations to all involved.

Finally, a congratulations to Merimbula-born Jem Ryan, who has been selected for the Prime Minister's XI squad to play India in Canberra this weekend. Well done, Jem; we're still claiming you as ours, even though you're in Ipswich now! (Time expired)