Senator John Williams, National Party Senator delivering a speech
... at the 75th Anniversary celebrations of the Roxy Cinema, Cafe & Museum, Bingara, New South Wales.
9th & 10th April, 2011
Speech of Senator John Williams
Welcome distinguished guests, ladies and gentleman and those from the Greek community. It’s wonderful to have you here tonight. I do have ties with Bingara. When I went into politics a few years ago I soon learnt that you have to be friends with the media and of course the one piece of the media and one fear in politics was the Bingara Advocate. So, I got to know the lady that owns it and I married her two years ago. I don’t know if it has helped my political career or not.
I do pay special attention to former premier Bob Carr and his wife for being here tonight. I’m sure Bob you would rather be here in a nice atmosphere in Bingara than in Macquarie Street these days as it is a different atmosphere there.
It’s wonderful ladies and gentlemen how the three tiers of government have come forward together to restore the Roxy Theatre. And what it is going to do for Bingara in many, many years to come. Both the funding from the federal government and the State Government and the foresight of the local people here in Bingara to restore such a magnificent building .and here tonight we celebrate the 75 years of the Roxy. Imagine in 125 years time when it is 200 years old and there’s no doubt it will stand for that long - and longer. I hope there’s a population of Bingara of about 10,000 people. Living in a country town and community like Bingara is wonderful. There’s even plenty of water and people can sit back and say “well we are celebrating the 200 years of The Roxy Theatre.”
Looking back at what the Greek people did for Australia…the first immigrant from Greece came here in 1852 and many in the 1880’s and anyone who has lived in regional Australia like I have been fortunate to do all my life, will know about the Greek cafes - the wonderful service, the wonderful food and the wonderful people. I’m disappointed that my good friend Mina Coroneo is not here tonight with his wife, Eleni, who have been away and feeling a bit offbeat but he will soon be fine in the near future; my good friend George Souris and his wife Vassi. The one thing about George is if he sits with you, front row, you run the risk of getting hit with the hands when they fly around but everyone who knows George and what a wonderful man he is and now a Minister in the new Government he will do a great job there.
It’s just a tremendous part of history what the Greek people have done for our nation. Helping to build the culture, working, going to war for the defence of our nation and many coming out here after the Second World War with basically very little and nothing. What do they do? They saw a land of opportunity. They worked hard. They delivered the goods and services with a smile on their faces and became successful. And to me that is what life is about in Australia- a land of opportunity where people are prepared to work hard, invest well and save and there’s the success we see so much through the Greek community here tonight.
Ladies and gentleman, I live 70 km away but it’s wonderful to come down to Bingara on a frequent basis and it’s great to go to the Roxy Theatre. John I’ve been there when you provided so many laughs and so much entertainment. It’s a wonderful theatre and there will be a lot more entertainment and fun to come out of it. Enjoy your evening, thank you to everyone who have put so much into, not only the restoration, but the Tourist Information Centre, The Council and the theatre itself- a wonderful facility that is the envy of so many in Australia. Let’s enjoy it and especially tonight.
