Ian Goodenough (Moore, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Last Friday I was pleased to attend the open day of the Spiers Centre in Heathridge as part of National Families Week. The new CEO, Gaelle Gouillou, and her team of staff and volunteers organised number of activities for children and families, including a bouncing castle, an animal petting zoo, a St John Ambulance display and a sausage sizzle staffed by the local Joondalup Men's Shed. Since its foundation in 1980, the Spiers Centre has been an invaluable centre of family support providing assistance through emergency relief, financial counselling, personal develop programs and support groups for those facing hardship and adversity. Each year, the Spiers Centre provides support services to an estimated 12,000 individuals and families facing personal crises or financial hardship. Volunteers provide around 1,500 unpaid hours of service to the community.

To date, the local business community has been very supportive, but it is time for renewal. I have a vision that the profile of the Spiers Centre will continue to grow, and that local corporate sponsorship and philanthropy will increase to match the substantial economic growth in the City of Joondalup. There is great satisfaction to be had in supporting a local charity which helps local people in our neighbourhood. I urge local companies to start supporting the Spiers Centre either financially or with goods and services in kind.