General News
9 July, 2023
Albanese showers praise on city's riverside project
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese praised the beauty of the Wimmera River and Horsham as a city before declaring open the $2.45 million nature play park and $3 million Wimmera riverfront project during his visit last Thursday. A large crowd started to...
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese praised the beauty of the Wimmera River and Horsham as a city before declaring open the $2.45 million nature play park and $3 million Wimmera riverfront project during his visit last Thursday.
A large crowd started to gather at the park about an hour before Mr Albanese's expected arrival.
They talked in small groups as they waited, compliments flowing about the beauty and creativity of the new park.
Fortunately, a few late-morning skiffs were gone, and despite an overcast sky and low temperatures, lack of wind meant the weather was not uncomfortably cold.
The PM surprised people by arriving on foot at the east end of the park, not the west as expected.
His entry also caught VNI West protesters off guard and left them unable to push their case for an inquiry into planned giant transmission lines through farmland in Central Victoria and on into NSW.
About 100 people of all ages from children in pushers to older people were among the protesters.
Western Victorian Upper House member Jacinta Ermacora accompanied the Prime Minister as he stolled to the park along the Wimmera River, along with Horsham Rural City mayor Robyn Gulline, deputy mayor Penny Flynn and CEO Sunil Bhalla.
Member for Lowan Emma Kealy and Member for Mallee Dr Anne Webster were among the crowd, along with former Member for Lowan and former Horsham mayor Hugh Delahunty, as well as at least two other former Horsham mayors, Pam Clarke and Mark Radford.
Aboriginal Elder Aunty Annabelle Nikkelson led a Welcome to Country and encouraged people to participate in a smoking ceremony. Mr Albanese participated with ease in the ceremony before the formal speeches in a nearby marquee.
The Prime Minister, who apologised for not attending to open the park and improvements on June 7 because of adverse weather at the time, showered the city with compliments and outlined his pleasure at being able to attend.
On an earlier street walk he had surprised people who had not expected to see their Prime Minister walking their street. He said he had also noticed some good coffee shops.
The PM emphasised in his opening speech that public spaces were important and that people needed places where they could meet and congregate.
He said Australians were social beings and young people cherished open spaces where they could gather.
Mr Albanese praised everyone who was involved with the project.
The gathering heard that 700 people had participated in helping to plan stage one of Horsham's riverfront program. More development was planned nearby including a riverfront cafe and a basketball stadium.
Both projects had federal, state and local government funding.