PM passes through city’s sites

THE region received a special guest last weekend with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visiting several Ballarat locations on Sunday.

In town as the first Prime Minister to attend the anniversary of the Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial, Mr Albanese addressed the crowd for the occasion’s 20-year milestone.

He said the site plays an important role in acknowledging the country’s military history.

“This is a great memorial because it is an opportunity for families and friends of those people [imprisoned during war] to come and to pay tribute and to pay their respects,” he said.

“I congratulate all those who’ve been associated with keeping their memories going for 20 years now and it was a great opportunity for me to be here.

Mr Albanese also acknowledged Ballarat East’s Samantha Murphy, who went missing on Sunday last week, and thanked the community for their efforts in searching for her.

“My thoughts are with the family and friends of Samantha Murphy,” he said.

“It has been, I’m sure, such a difficult time and I thank all those people who are involved in the search and hope that it has a good outcome.”

Mr Albanese was joined by Federal Member for Ballarat, Catherine King, who echoed his sentiments.

“The Ballarat community has been extraordinary, as they always are, from SES from VicPol to CFA to ordinary members of the community,” she said.

Following the memorial ceremony, Mr Albanese also visited the Australian Centre for Gold Rush Collections run by Sovereign Hill.