Mr ANTHONY SMITH (1:45 PM) —Today I want to recognise the hardworking volunteers of the Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre in the federal electorate of Casey. The Athenaeum Theatre is a historic building that dates back to 1888. It was a famous theatre in its day, hosting Dame Nellie Melba and many others over the years. Thirty years ago a group of volunteers got together to take over what was then a derelict building to renovate it and bring it back to its former glory. On Friday I met with a group of the volunteers who were celebrating the 30th birthday of the reopening of the theatre.

I pay tribute to Ted Dunn, the creative director; Fay Hendrickson from theatre public relations; Richard Longmore, the chairman of the board: Anthony McAleer, a local historian who is writing a 30-year history of the theatre; and particularly Mr Russell Johnson, who has been working day and night for 30 years making sure the theatre is the best it possibly can be. As I said, the theatre operates entirely on the efforts of generous volunteers who build all the sets and ensure that everything runs smoothly on theatre nights.