Kristy McBain (Eden-Monaro, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to congratulate eight-year-old Darcy Uttley from Googong who is a true local hero. Darcy is a scout, and he's been raising money to buy bedding and shelter for the homeless in our community to earn his Creating a Better World badge. His amazing fundraising efforts have earned him the Australia Day Hero 2026 Young Person of the Year Award by the national charity Backpack Bed for Homeless. The charity gives out awards every year, but, this Australia Day, Darcy was the only person to receive this honour. Other awards went to organisations such as schools and businesses. Darcy raised over $2,000 for the charity by selling Play-Doh and holding lolly guessing competitions. The amount raised equated to 15 backpack beds for the homeless in the area, which have been distributed by the Salvation Army. Backpack Bed for Homeless founder and CEO, Tony Clark, said, 'Darcy's amazing fundraising efforts have resulted in almost $50,000 in taxpayer savings for the Canberra and Queanbeyan communities.' These backpack beds are a great comfort for people that are living on the streets or sleeping rough and have helped to improve the dignity, health, sleep and warmth for people across our communities. It is an honour to have young constituents like Darcy in the electorate of Eden-Monaro, so a big congratulations to Darcy.

I'd like to give a plug to one of my favourite times of the year. Country shows have kicked off right across the mighty Eden-Monaro. We're in the midst of the 2026 country show season, which kicked off with Pambula and Candelo in January and will continue with the Nimmitabel show this weekend. Country shows and ag field days are much more than a great day out; they are the heart of regional communities. I want to encourage everyone in this place to take your families and to support a country show. In fact, if any members of parliament are here for the weekend, Nimmitabel is only an hour and a half down the road, so come down and have a look. You can get a full list of New South Wales country shows on the AgShows NSW website. There will be shows across Eden-Monaro in February and March, including the 150th anniversary of the Bega Show at the end of February this year. Showgrounds are always buzzing with competitors, volunteers, judges, sponsors, families and communities coming together to celebrate the very best of regional life. So, from Cobargo to Bega, Goulburn to Bombala, I'd love to see you there.

Finally, I'll give a quick shout out to the Terry Campese Foundation. The former Raiders captain and New South Wales and Australian representative created a foundation to mentor youth at risk in our local community. It's major fundraiser every year is a Special Forces challenge, which ADF personnel do in their private time. About a dozen recruits have already raised over $200,000 to support youth at risk. Last year, they built a school in Tonga with those youth. I look forward to seeing what the foundation will do this year. (Time expired)

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