Allegra Spender (Wentworth, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

I want to take this opportunity to showcase the work of two wonderful organisations within Wentworth. Earlier this month I had the pleasure of meeting Rabbi Alon Meltzer, the director of programs at a not-for-profit called Shalom Collective. This organisation creates contemporary Jewish experiences that celebrate culture, deepen identity and build a thriving community, as well as inviting everyone, Jewish and non-Jewish alike, to come together over literature, art, food and culture. They run a variety of programs, such as performing and visual arts programs, the Sydney Jewish Writers Festival, Jewish Food Festival and the children's book delivery festival, which connects over 26 thousand people across the community and beyond.

I also want to celebrate the incredible work that's been done at Kinghorn Cancer Centre in Darlinghurst. First opened in 2012, the Kinghorn brings together researchers and clinicians onto a single world-class site, so that research findings can be rapidly translated into clinical applications for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of cancer.

Trevor Tyne, a patient at Kinghorn, recently came to see me with his oncologist Dr Jenny Liu. I was so moved by the way that Trevor spoke of the kindness and care of the Kinghorn staff, and by both of his and Dr Liu's passion in ensuring that more Australians experience the lifesaving work of this centre firsthand. It particularly focuses on rare cancers, which equate to 25 per cent of cancer deaths, and this is an area that needs greater support.

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