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Mr MIKE BAIRD (Manly) [5.18 p.m.]: It is a privilege and a delight to inform the House of a wonderful local community event taking place in the electorate of Manly as I speak. The Sydney Vocal Arts Centre, together with local businesses and community groups, is staging a rendition of that most celebrated of musicals, TheSound of Music . It is playing before packed houses at the historic St Patrick's Estate on the hill at Manly and is receiving rave reviews. What makes it particularly special is that all the profits from the seven performances go to Bear Cottage, the State's only children's hospice. For those not familiar with its work, Bear Cottage is a place where children with terminal illnesses and their families can stay to receive rest and medical care in an environment designed to feel like home. It is a truly remarkable place.
Modelled around a large family beach home, the cottage has specialist 24-hours-a-day medical care and wonderful staff and volunteers who do everything they can to ensure families have the opportunity to spend quality time together and relax in the surroundings. Families stay at Bear Cottage free of charge. Bear Cottage was established by the community and is run on donations from individuals and community events such as the one I have described today. Luckily, the organisers of the performance were able to draw from a ready and willing talent pool of professional actors and the not so professional. Local celebrities, despite their lack of experience treading the boards, jumped at the opportunity to help. Manly Sea Eagles rugby league legend Steve Menzies, who played a record 310th first grade game last weekend—well done, Beaver—and Olympic rower Shelley Oates-Wilding are just two of those pitching in for a worthy cause.
All the professional actors involved have managed to fit the production around their busy schedules. I truly congratulate them. The lead cast includes Saskia Smith, who is absolutely outstanding in the lead role of Maria, Simon Westaway, who is also very good as Captain Von Trapp, Russell Newman, Lana Nesnas, Prue Dunstone and one Andrew Hazzard, who, as many members would know, is the son of the outstanding member for Wakehurst. Andrew is a testament to his father, from whom he has obviously inherited his theatrical abilities! Although I do not want to include myself in such an esteemed list, I have to mention as a warning to the audience that I will play the small role of the butler for a couple of performances. I also thank my fellow politicians the Federal member for Mackellar, Bronwyn Bishop, who is outstanding, and the Mayor of Manly, Peter Macdonald, for taking part in this performance.
The Sydney Vocal Arts Centre has played a crucial part in getting this show off the ground. Margi Coen and Isabel Kirk, vocal instructor and director, have worked tirelessly to ensure the show's success. As it is an outdoor performance, it has been a struggle coping with the dire weather over the past couple of weeks. I also pay tribute to all the sponsors and supporters of the event, including the International College of Management, Sydney, on whose grounds the show is hosted. The college does an outstanding job for the community. It produces outstanding hospitality students and time and again willingly contributes to charity events. It is the first to put up its hand and support the community. I commend it for its support. Local business support is crucial, and once again I thank all involved.
The performances have all but sold out, so members who do not have a ticket will have difficulty attending. I thank everyone who purchased tickets. By doing so, they support the fantastic work carried on at Bear Cottage. I implore those who are unable to attend the performance to show their support for Bear Cottage by making a donation. This can be done via Bear Cottage's website at www.bearcottage.chw.edu.au or by phoning direct. The Sound of Music performance represents everything that is good about the Manly community. When I first became a member I said to local community groups that it is time we worked together to achieve results. If we work together rather than against each other we will achieve results for the community.
This event, which was held last weekend and will be held again this weekend, demonstrates that if we band together to improve the lives of those less fortunate than ourselves we can make a real difference. It has been an opportunity for our community to show what it can achieve when it comes together. It has been an outstanding success. All the proceeds will make a real difference to the lives of many people who are less fortunate than we are. I am proud to represent my community and I pay testament to all those involved in this worthy cause. I commend the performance to the House.
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