Jamie Chaffey (Parkes, National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Hansard source

The population of the Parkes electorate gives me more than 216,000 reasons to love this job. Those 216,000-plus people include some of the most unselfish, kind and caring individuals you could ever meet, who go above and beyond every single day to make their communities great places to live. And, in the past month or so, the full generosity of this electorate has given me many reasons to celebrate.

Recently I was honoured to join the community in Broken Hill to celebrate 90 years of the Royal Flying Doctor Service south-eastern division in New South Wales. The RFDS has been recognised as Australia's most reputable charity 13 times, and with good reason. Every two minutes someone from around Australia is calling on the RFDS for help. For nine decades the Royal Flying Doctor Service has been the lifeline for people in the Broken Hill region and beyond, delivering world-class health care where and when it's needed. This milestone is an opportunity to recognise the incredible doctors, nurses, pilots and staff who make their service possible, along with the volunteers, the supporters and the communities that have stood beside the Royal Flying Doctor Service for generations.

I'd also like to congratulate the Royal Flying Doctor Service Broken Hill Women's Auxiliary, who recently celebrated their 75th anniversary. This wonderful organisation has been hosting the RFDS ball for more than 60 years and raising funds for the RFDS.

Another amazing organisation at work in the Parkes electorate, and beyond, is the Country Women's Association. The Condobolin branch and the Terramungamine branch in Dubbo will next month celebrate their 100-year anniversary. A century of serving your community is truly something that must be applauded, and well done not only to those people on today's committee but also those who have worked hard over the past 100 years.

I must also say a big thank you to another organisation that provides transport for seriously ill children in rural and regional areas, and that is Little Wings. Recently I attended a function for the start of the monthly paediatric clinic in Nyngan. What a difference Little Wings is making for sick kids, and also for their parents.

I'd also like to pay tribute to another organisation who care for their community, and that is the Pink Angels. The Pink Angels support breast cancer patients and their families in Dubbo and western New South Wales, travelling as far as Cobar and Lightning Ridge. They raise their own funds to help patients with home-care expenses and many other needs. The Pink Angels are yet another example of great work that great people are doing throughout the Parkes electorate. It is an honour to serve such a caring electorate. I congratulate all volunteers, not just those in these organisations who give their time, resources and skills to the whole community. (Time expired)

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