Carol Berry (Whitlam, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise today to recognise the extraordinary contribution made by Jenny Kena to the community of Robertson, a beautiful village in the Southern Highlands region within my electorate.

In 2025, Jenny was named the Wingecarribee Citizen of the Year, and she has performed her role admirably over the past 12 months. Jenny is widely admired and respected for her integrity and character, as well as her hard work in the local community. For over 20 years, Jenny has been a very active member of her community in Robertson. She played a key role in founding CTC Robertson in 2004.

CTC Robertson is a not-for-profit organisation that enriches the local community through arts, education and social programs. The initials 'CTC' represent the organisation's three core areas of focus: community, technology and creativity. Jenny has not only been CTC's president for the past 14 years, but her enthusiasm and drive have been critical to the organisation establishing itself as a thriving community hub. Her dedication has been essential to CTC becoming a vital space for education and connection and is an extremely valuable community asset. Jenny also writes for the Robertson News and Robertson E-News, manages the village website and represents CTC on the Robertson Community Association. I thank Jenny Kena today in the Australian parliament for making such a longstanding and valuable contribution to her community.

I rise today to recognise an incredible woman from my electorate of Whitlam, Aunty Lindy Lawler, an Aboriginal elder, Yuin woman, community leader and survivor of the stolen generations. Aunty Lindy is highly respected across the Illawarra for her inspiring qualities of strength and resilience and her generous work in the community supporting organisations such as the Illawarra Women's Health Centre, Illawarra Aboriginal Medical Service, Shellharbour Council, the United Koori Social Club and the Wollongong Cultural Centre. This important work covers so many areas, including mental health, cultural education and mentorship.

I was honoured to be at the Shellharbour Civic Centre when Aunty Lindy received an Outstanding Contribution to Reconciliation award, at the 2025 regional NAIDOC awards, for her tireless advocacy, creating spaces for young Aboriginal people and promoting education and healing within the Illawarra community. Aunty Lindy was also recognised and awarded the Outstanding Contribution to Educational Achievement by an Aboriginal Community Member at the 19th annual Nanga Mai Awards, in 2024.

Aunty Lindy has endured great hardship in her life, enduring emotional turmoil and abuse after she and her twin sister were stolen from their parents when they were only five months old. Aunty Lindy and her identical twin sister were born in David Berry Memorial Hospital, at Berry, on the New South Wales South Coast, in December 1958. In May 1959, their parents were told to take the twins back to the hospital for a check-up, and, when they returned, the girls were gone. When they were 18, the sisters were able to meet their mother for the first time. Aunty Lindy never got to meet her father. Aunty Lindy has demonstrated extraordinary resilience and dedication to community healing. Aunty Lindy is widely loved and admired, and, on behalf of the Whitlam electorate, I thank her for her leadership and her service to our community.

I also rise today to recognise Barbara Gibb, a highly valued member of the Warilla and Shellharbour communities. For the past 25 years, Barb, as she's known, has worked as a volunteer with Assist Shellharbour, managing the Born Again Boutique and op shop in Warilla. Born Again Boutique opened in 1998, providing a place where people in the community can have access to clean, preloved and affordable clothing and goods. Many items can be purchased for just a few dollars, and Born Again Boutique is popular and has a great reputation.

Barb looks after every aspect of the boutique's day-to-day functioning, including sorting donations, organising tip runs, maintaining cleanliness, supervising volunteers and liaising with partnering organisations, and she volunteers 40 hours a week. Importantly, Barb doesn't just manage the store; she's cultivated a space of connection, care and community, and she's achieved this through her integrity and compassion. She remembers people's names, their stories and what they're going through in life. She takes time to check in on customers and community members, offering a kind word, a cup of tea, a message of support or a reminder that they're not alone.

I had the great pleasure of visiting Born Again Boutique a few weeks ago and meeting Barb and her wonderful team of volunteers. I thank Barb for her 25 years of service to her community and for doing this with such warmth, compassion and generosity of spirit.

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