Miss Africa Canberra

The number of people of African heritage in Canberra is growing, and so are events that showcase African culture. One new event that launched on 29 September is the Miss Africa Canberra Pageant. In the Assembly today, I publicly thanked Kofi Bonsu and his team for putting together this thoroughly enjoyable spectacular and for inviting me to attend.

I also congratulated the winner of the pageant. Nettie Kamanda was born the eldest of six children in Liberia and survived two civil wars before the age of nine. She and her family then found welcoming refuge here in Australia. Her words were inspiring! She paid tribute to the importance in her life of both family and faith and encouraged attendees to have hope for the future ‘because the past is a lesson and not a sentence’. Such people make Canberra stronger.

Click on the arrow button to read my speech.