Angus Taylor (Hume, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

I rise today to acknowledge the extraordinary contribution of volunteers across my electorate of Hume and to congratulate the recipients of the 2024-25 Volunteer Grants Program, a program that we strongly supported when we were in government and continue to support, because volunteers are the backbone of our communities, and that's absolutely true in my community of Hume. They dedicate their time, skills and energy to local sporting clubs, community associations and service organisations. These grants recognise their efforts and provide much-needed support to help them continue their vital work. Small amounts of money can make a really big difference to these organisations, and this year a diverse range of organisations have been successful.

In Camden, the Camden Bowling Club received $1,500 to purchase new bowling equipment for the junior competition, the Camden Rugby Club received $3,000 for a generator, the Rotary Club of Camden received $3,100 for insurance, and the Camden CWA also got $2,500 for insurance. In Wollondilly, grassroots sport has received a welcome boost, with the Wilton Warriors Football Club receiving $4½ thousand to purchase a new line-marking machine, the Wollondilly Junior Australian Football Club receiving $2,400 to reimburse coaches for travel costs, and the Wollondilly Pony Club receiving $1,800 to cover insurance costs. We know those insurance costs are a really big deal for these organisations, and getting support so that they can cover their insurance has been a feature of the grants this year. We know insurance is becoming a crippling cost indeed for many organisations.

The Oaks Junior Rugby League Football Club has been awarded $1,640 to get a new freezer. South West Rugby League Football Club secured $4,000 for line-marking equipment. Appin United Football Club received $2,000 for a portable gazebo and tablet, and the Wallacia Progress Association received $2,500, again to cover insurance costs. Other successful organisations include the Australian Breastfeeding Association in Macarthur, Buxton Community Association, Equestriad Camden, Macarthur Lions Club and Shining Stars Foundation.

Every one of these organisations is powered by volunteers—ordinary people doing extraordinary things. You see time and time again that in these clubs it's the same people over and over who are taking on an incredible workload to support these organisations. It brings together people in our local communities, and that makes them better places to live, work and raise a family. I'm proud to say these grants will help to cover so many of these costs. I absolutely congratulate all successful organisations, and I thank, most importantly of all, the thousands and thousands of volunteers across my electorate of Hume, in my local communities, for the time, the care and the commitment they give every single day.

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