Mrs BRAHAM - 1995-11-29
We all know that Christmas is coming, and those of us who come from Bendigo will recall streets and homes decorated with Christmas displays and lights. It is something the town is very proud of. I was intrigued when I read that PAWA is running a competition for the best Christmas lighting display. Can the minister inform us about these initiatives?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I thank the member for her question which provides me with the opportunity to highlight some of PAWA's efforts in the community this festive season. PAWA is running a competition based on the theme `Show Santa where you live'. The aim of the promotion is to recapture some of the simplest pleasures most of us were fortunate to enjoy as children, such as a lighted Christmas tree. The promotion encourages householders and businesses to join in the festive spirit by lighting up their homes and shopfronts around the
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festive season theme. The prizes are surge protection equipment to the value of $1000 for the best business and $500 for the best front garden. In part, the competition also promotes the importance of these safety devices. PAWA is also promoting how little it costs to join in this spirit - little more than 7 per evening - to dispel the perception among many that lighting up the front garden is a costly exercise.
As well, I am absolutely delighted - no pun intended - to inform the House that, using this Christmas theme, PAWA has begun to beautify 4 of our most prominent water towers, those at Rapid Creek, Salonika, Winnellie and Palmerston. Winnellie will light up on Friday night, followed by Palmerston on Monday, with Rapid Creek and Salonika being illuminated later next week.
This community initiative is part of a 5-year program designed to complement and encourage similar promotions by the Darwin City Council and Darwin City Traders. I hope it will encourage other businesses and individuals to join in the festive spirit. For a variety of reasons, Christmas can be a difficult time for many families. Some are separated from their loved ones, many others simply do not have the financial resources to participate in the commercialised side of Christmas. I am hoping that, this year, all families living in or visiting the region will be able to enjoy the simply joys of the season in this small way. Over the 5-year period, I am hoping that the program will spread to other major centres too, making this an annual event that families can look forward to.
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I thank the member for her question which provides me with the opportunity to highlight some of PAWA's efforts in the community this festive season. PAWA is running a competition based on the theme `Show Santa where you live'. The aim of the promotion is to recapture some of the simplest pleasures most of us were fortunate to enjoy as children, such as a lighted Christmas tree. The promotion encourages householders and businesses to join in the festive spirit by lighting up their homes and shopfronts around the
Page 1083
festive season theme. The prizes are surge protection equipment to the value of $1000 for the best business and $500 for the best front garden. In part, the competition also promotes the importance of these safety devices. PAWA is also promoting how little it costs to join in this spirit - little more than 7 per evening - to dispel the perception among many that lighting up the front garden is a costly exercise.
As well, I am absolutely delighted - no pun intended - to inform the House that, using this Christmas theme, PAWA has begun to beautify 4 of our most prominent water towers, those at Rapid Creek, Salonika, Winnellie and Palmerston. Winnellie will light up on Friday night, followed by Palmerston on Monday, with Rapid Creek and Salonika being illuminated later next week.
This community initiative is part of a 5-year program designed to complement and encourage similar promotions by the Darwin City Council and Darwin City Traders. I hope it will encourage other businesses and individuals to join in the festive spirit. For a variety of reasons, Christmas can be a difficult time for many families. Some are separated from their loved ones, many others simply do not have the financial resources to participate in the commercialised side of Christmas. I am hoping that, this year, all families living in or visiting the region will be able to enjoy the simply joys of the season in this small way. Over the 5-year period, I am hoping that the program will spread to other major centres too, making this an annual event that families can look forward to.
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016