Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Running from 18 April to 18 May and coordinated by the National Trust, the Australian Heritage Festival is the country’s largest community-driven celebration of heritage.

This year’s theme is Unearthed – revealing the past, bringing to light lesser-known histories and stories, and unearthing knowledge to empower younger generations as custodians of culture and tradition.

To celebrate this theme, the City is running a series of free, family-friendly community events at the Cockman and Buckingham heritage houses, Wanneroo Regional Museum and a variety of other locations across the City.  

Our free Heritage Festival events include:

• The Antipodean Manifesto exhibition at Wanneroo Regional Gallery, Wednesdays to Saturdays, 18 April to 3 May.
• A bees and beeswax wraps workshop at Buckingham House on 30 April.
• Mischief and mysteries school holiday sessions at Wanneroo Museum, running various days between 19 and 26 April.
• Sunday afternoons at Cockman House from 20 April to 11 May.
• Embroidery workshops at various City libraries on 30 April, 7 and 14 May.
• Friday Flicks: 40-year showcase at the Wanneroo Theatrette on 2, 9 and 16 May.
• A Wanneroo in wartime bus tour, departing from Wanneroo Regional Museum, on 6 May.

Find out more about these programs and events at wanneroo.wa.gov.au/heritagefestival.

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Released 17/03/2025

Six local emergency service members have been recognised for their contributions to the Canberra community, with each receiving an ACT Community Protection Medal at a ceremony today.

The Community Protection Medal was established in 2002 to acknowledge police and emergency services members who have made sustained and distinguished or outstanding service to the community.

The medals are awarded each year, with Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services, Dr Marisa Paterson presenting medals to the recipients during a ceremony at Regatta Point today.

Minister Paterson said that these six recipients embodied the best of our emergency service staff and volunteers.

“I’m deeply impressed by the unwavering dedication of the people in these agencies in ensuring the safety and well-being of our community,” said Dr. Paterson.

“Today’s award recipients are being acknowledged for their excellence in training, response, membership, and health and wellbeing, and they should all should be very proud of their work.”

“They are true examples of the outstanding individuals within our emergency services. In times of crisis, they are the people who step up. We have seen this recently with our personnel heading to Queensland.”

“We also extend our gratitude to the families for their ongoing support. The commitment, the deployments, and the overnight and public holiday shifts is what allows us to live in a safe and secure city.”

“To the six award recipients, on behalf of the ACT community and the ACT Government, we extend our heartfelt congratulations and thank you for your service.”

The six recipients of the 2024 ACT Community Protection Medal are:

Michael Caldwell, ACT Ambulance Service

In recognition of his commitment to the provision and improvement of professional pre-hospital emergency services within the ACT Ambulance Service Communication Centre. During his 14-year career with the Service, Michael has progressed through the Communications Centre as a call taker, to now being the Coordination Officer. His leadership and experience has assisted in building the knowledge of the team around him, ensuring the Canberra community have call-takers who can respond effectively in times of need.

Commander Guy Cassis, ACT Fire and Rescue

In recognition of his distinguished and outstanding contribution to community safety through the awareness and promotion of firefighter health, safety and wellbeing. Throughout his 22-year career, Commander Cassis has dedicated his time, over and above that required of his regular duties, to develop and improve process and procedure around firefighter safety, including being a Peer Support Officer and Health and Safety Representative.

Mr Colin Dawes, ACT Emergency Services Agency

In recognition of his leadership within ESA for almost 20 years. Whether an emergency event or day-to-day operations, Colin consistently provides outstanding service, working tirelessly to deliver aid and support to the Services as they respond and help the community. During the most recent emergency events of fire, smoke, storm, and the pandemic, Colin proved himself to be an adaptable, reliable, competent, and compassionate leader, colleague, and mentor.

Detective Sergeant Lauren Gilliland, ACT Policing

In recognition of her sustained distinguished and outstanding service to the ACT community over the past 15 years as an extremely highly regarded and effective police officer, instructor, mentor, and role model. Detective Sergeant Gilliland’s work has revolutionised the delivery of training and investigations into sexual offences and child abuse in the ACT and is now recognised internationally as best practice. Detective Sergeant Gilliland has had a major positive contribution to the lives of numerous victims in Canberra and is an exemplary police officer in every regard.

Commander Adam Hartnett, ACT State Emergency Service

Adam has significantly increased membership participation and ensured robust ready team for emergency callouts. His active participation in all aspects of the SES, from frontline operations to training and community engagement exemplifies his commitment to service. Adam has fostered a culture of preparedness and resilience, ensuring his team is always ready to provide critical assistance to the ACT community during storms, floods and land searches.

Ms Nicola Lewis, ACT Rural Fire Service

In recognition of her sustained service to training and recruitment across the ACT Rural Fire Service. For the past 15 years Nicola has provided outstanding service to individual and collective training, recruitment, and provided administration and operational support to the Service. During her service, Nicola has served as the Gungahlin Brigade Training Coordinator and has coordinated 10 firefighter courses. She has also been the lead assessor across courses and her knowledge and wisdom will shape the next generation of firefighters within the ACT Community.

– Statement ends –

Marisa Paterson, MLA | Media Releases

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Released 17/03/2025

Today marks the 20th anniversary of the ACT School Volunteer Program, through which hundreds of individuals have volunteered as mentors to ACT public school students in our primary and secondary schools.

So many Canberrans have benefited from the generous contribution of these volunteers, who provide an extra tier of support for students through their conversation and connection. 

In 2024 alone, more than 135 mentors volunteered across 40 schools. The volunteers typically meet weekly with their mentees, engaging with them through one-on-one activities to support literacy and numeracy, or by collaborating with them on craft, cooking, Meccano or Lego projects.

The Program recruits, trains and manages the volunteers in partnership with the ACT Education Directorate, with the latter providing facilities and support at the Headley Beare Centre for Teaching and Learning for training of mentors and committee members.

The volunteers share insights gained through their own lives and boost confidence and attitudes to learning through conversation and connection.

Some mentors have been with the Program since it began, returning each year to continue this invaluable work.

I thank all of the volunteers, including past and present committee members, for their contribution to the success of the Program.

I also acknowledge Directorate staff who have provided training and advice to the volunteer mentors to support the enrichment opportunities they offer our students.

Quotes attributable to Ms Nola Shoring, President of the School Volunteer Program ACT:

“I’m delighted the Governor General, Her Excellency the Honourable Sam Mostyn, a past ACT public school student herself, will join us for the ACT School Volunteer Program’s anniversary celebrations.

“The then Governor-General, the late Major General Michael Jeffery, officially launched the Program at North Ainslie Primary School in 2005, so it is wonderful and fitting that Her Excellency can join us to celebrate the impact of each of our volunteers over the past two decades.

“I’d like to thank the ACT Education Directorate for its continuing commitment to our close working partnership, and the busy principals and teachers who have made space in their programs for our volunteers – it is at the schools that the magic happens.

“I’d especially like to recognise the students who have embraced the opportunities this very special intergenerational Program has provided.

“Each one of our mentors has valued the opportunity to help make a difference in these young people’s lives, and has in turn benefited greatly from the interactions they have shared.”

– Statement ends –

Yvette Berry, MLA | Media Releases

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Released 17/03/2025

Canberrans can enjoy a new level of environmental protection from today as the Territory’s right to a healthy environment takes effect in the Human Rights Act2004.

The ACT is the first Australian jurisdiction to enshrine this vital human right in legislation.

The right to a healthy environment encompasses the right to clean air, a safe climate, access to safe water and adequate sanitation, healthy and sustainably produced food, non-toxic environments to live, work, study, and play, and healthy biodiversity and ecosystems.

It also includes the right to access information on environmental matters, participate in environmental decision-making, and seek access to justice where the right may be breached. The inclusion of the right will also ensure environmental and climate considerations feature in ACT public authority functions and decision-making.

Canberrans can make a complaint to the ACT Human Rights Commission if they believe the right to a healthy environment has been breached or not considered in a decision by a public authority.

Quotes attributable Tara Cheyne, Minister for Human Rights.

“The ACT continues to be a leader in human rights, and this right takes a ground-breaking step forward for human rights legislation reform in Australia.

“The right to a healthy environment is recognised in law internationally, but this is the first time it has been recognised in Australia.

“Our community is facing pressing challenges from climate change, environmental pollution and biodiversity loss each of which poses serious risks to other human rights, including the right to life and the right to equality, threatening the wellbeing of our community.

“Enshrining the right to a healthy environment is essential for the full enjoyment of other human rights.”

Quotes attributable to Suzanne Orr, Minister for Climate Change, Environment, Energy and Water:

“I’d like to thank Minister Cheyne for her leadership on this nation-leading reform.

“Canberrans love their bush capital and have been among the strongest supporters for Climate Change Action in the nation.

“Having a right to a healthy environment is another demonstration of our appreciation for our environment and our commitment to leading the way on looking after it.”

Quotes attributable to Dr Pene Mathew, ACT Human Rights Commissioner:

“This is a really significant step in recognising that we all depend on a clean and healthy environment to be able to lead good and happy lives.

“While the right to a healthy environment can’t address climate change and environmental harms on its own, incorporating this right within our ACT human rights framework means that public servants and government agencies will now have to consider environmental impacts when they develop and implement policies and laws.

“Canberrans will also now be able to contact the Commission with concerns or complaints about public authorities not acting consistently with this right.”

Quotes attributable to Nicole Sommer, Director of Legal Practice at the Environmental Defenders Office:

“Today is a historic day for the ACT and for the nation, as the first Australian jurisdiction recognises what we know to be true – that our wellbeing and security depends on access to a healthy environment.

“The ACT is leading the nation with this ground-breaking reform. We applaud the ACT legislature for acting so quickly to embed this into its existing human rights laws.

“As the climate crisis worsens, this right is only becoming more critical.”

– Statement ends –

Tara Cheyne, MLA | Media Releases

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