Ms ADDISON (Wendouree) (10:01): It has been a tough year for all of us, and I want to take the opportunity to reflect on the resilience and generosity of my community. The community of Ballarat is strong and kind. We are adaptable, innovative and have big hearts. There are so many stand-out efforts across Ballarat during 2020.

I want to thank everyone for their efforts, particularly our essential workers, who carried our community during the most challenging times of the COVID pandemic. We rose to the challenge of COVID with resilience and optimism. It was wonderful to see so many houses with teddy bears in their windows and chalk rainbows on the footpaths.

Thank you to the Ballarat Foundation, who delivered hundreds of food parcels each fortnight, and the many other not-for-profits and philanthropic organisations who responded to support people in need.

Schools across Ballarat were extraordinary during 2020, especially how they transitioned to remote learning. Thank you to our principals and teachers for supporting our children’s learning at home and keeping them engaged and connected. Thank you also to the parents who stepped in and stepped up to support our children’s education.

We have outstanding healthcare workers, who cared for the 59 people in our community who had COVID and stopped the spread in our region. Our healthcare workers are truly world class and deserve the highest praise and recognition.

Now it is time to recover and reconnect. We need to back local business, support local jobs and help one another. I wish every person in Wendouree a very merry Christmas and all the best for the new year.

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