National Volunteer Week

Hansard ID: HANSARD-1323879322-102290

Hansard session: Fifty-Sixth Parliament, First Session (56-1)

National Volunteer Week

Mr ANOULACK CHANTHIVONG (Macquarie Fields) (17:32:14):

I pay tribute to the thousands of people in my electorate who volunteer their time to make our community a better place. Right now, communities across the country are marking National Volunteer Week. I will take a few minutes today to join the chorus of praise for our volunteers. As I speak here, it is a certainty that in my electorate of Macquarie Fields plenty of people are freely giving up their time to help others. They are the parents who are volunteers working in the school canteen, helping with a reading program in class or preparing for the next parents and citizens meeting. They are grassroots coaches and managers who are preparing for this weekend's training and games to make sure that the kids in their sides get the most out of their sporting activities. They are visitors having a cup of tea and chat with people in aged-care homes to make sure they retain vital social connections.

Members of the local Lions and Rotary clubs are planning their invaluable charitable activities for the coming year. There is a team of volunteers giving up their time to drive the elderly and people with a disability to appointments and social outings. I could go on and on. Many volunteers do not give up their time for accolades or public recognition. In fact, their humility and strong sense of community service means they are often embarrassed when someone takes the time to say thank you or publicly recognise them for their volunteering efforts. This was certainly the case when recently I presented Seniors Local Achievement Awards to four amazing people in my electorate. Ena Marshall has been a volunteer with Girl Guides Australia for more than 35 years. She was also a volunteer at Curran Public School for eight years and at Glenfield Public School for 32 years, helping children with behaviour and learning disabilities. Throughout her years of volunteering she has displayed kindness, patience and a willingness to share with young people her many virtues.

Jean Smirthwaite served as president of the Ingleburn and District Pensioners Benefit Club for 13 years and has been treasurer for the past two years. She has also been volunteering with the local non-profit organisation Break the Cycle for 19 years. Jean certainly is dedicated in everything she does and helps those in need. Jan Nicholl is a well-known and well-respected community elder who advocates for people without a voice. She volunteers her time at the Adventist Development and Relief Agency Community Centre in Macquarie Fields, attending the Grandparents Support Group and Addiction Support Group. Jan is a community shaker and is admired and appreciated by many families and elderly people in the community.

Clive Black is one of the newest volunteers at South West Community Transport but he has already clocked up more than 350,000 kilometres over 1,200 trips since joining the service in March 2016. Clive is also a State Emergency Service volunteer and recently enrolled in TAFE to undertake further training in transporting people with a disability. When I visited Ena, Jean, Jan and Clive to present them with their awards, what struck me about all these incredible volunteers was their humility. Week in and week out they go about their business quietly and without hesitation. They are happy to help others and being helpful makes them happy. The latest census shows that more than 9,000 people do voluntary work in Macquarie Fields. I am proud to report that all age groups are represented by those volunteers. Some of the youngest in our community, school kids, donate their time to raise money or collect donated items for local charities and some volunteers are young at heart.

I know of people in their eighties who donate their creative talents to knit or crochet teddy bears and blankets for premature babies or people in aged-care homes. These volunteers make our community great. It is astounding how many hours these people spend volunteering. I want to share with the House a few examples. I was amazed to learn that the 17 volunteers at the Rotary Club of Ingleburn contributed 6,200 volunteering hours last year. The 32 volunteers at the Campbelltown and Districts Lapidary Club contributed nearly 5,000 volunteering hours while the 17 volunteers at Eschol Park Little Athletics Club contributed 3,000 volunteering hours last year. These are incredible numbers. The volunteers do not expect a pat on the back; they give of their time freely and happily because they have a generous spirit. It is only fitting that every year we recognise these volunteers as part of National Volunteer Week.

Volunteering truly is a noble endeavour that contributes to the fabric, welfare and wellbeing of our society. I take this opportunity to thank each and every volunteer in my electorate and those around the State and nation for the great work they do to make our community a better place.

Mr MARK COURE (Oatley) (17:37:08):

I thank the member for Macquarie Fields for his contribution on volunteers, who play a huge role in his community, my community and across Australia. This year I am hosting yet again the St George Community Awards. I have hosted the awards every year since my election. The award categories are Volunteer Achievement Award, Community Group Achievement Award, Sporting Achievement Award, Environmental Achievement Award, Business Achievement Award, Youth Achievement Award and Senior Volunteer Achievement Award. We receive more than 100 nominations for this great awards program which, as I said, I have hosted every year since becoming a member of Parliament. It is my opportunity to say thank you to the unsung heroes who do a wonderful job in the community—from the parents and citizens association president to the person who manages the canteen for the local soccer, football or netball group. It is a wonderful opportunity to thank all those in our local community. They do a wonderful job. They not do it for thanks; they do it because they have a big heart.