It's such a great time of year to be in Melbourne's north. As the weather warms up, our calendars fill up with cultural celebrations that bring together people across the community—like today, when Ohi Day celebrations get under way in Lalor. I know that the Greek Orthodox Community of Whittlesea, led by secretary George Sachinidis, will be right now getting ready for a really wonderful celebration enjoyed by so many community members. As I told my good friend Constantine on the weekend, I'm very sorry not to be there, but I want to acknowledge Ohi Day right here in Australia's parliament.

We've also recently celebrated Durga Puja in Epping, and I acknowledge Councillor Chaman Tiwari and the Sharit Charitable Foundation for putting together a wonderful celebration. Just this weekend people came from across Melbourne's north to celebrate Dussehra Mela in Epping, and I recognise my friend Kishore and the PREM Prakash Mandal Mandir, who do a really wonderful job of making this Mela a really special celebration enjoyed by all the community each and every year. I'm also looking forward to joining the ninth Northern Diwali when I get back to town—so well organised by Nish and the team at Mission Smile—and going on to celebrate Deepavali with the Tamil Seniors Social Club.

I think about the Circolo Pensionati Italiani Di Bundoora, who mark 38 years of contribution to the community with an afternoon of dancing—not by me, I hasten to add!—food and music. I recognise that after many decades of dedication from many committee members—I think of my good friends Maria and Antoinette in particular—there's a new committee and new energy under president Gianni Pitruzzello and secretary Luisa Mikheal. These celebrations and so many more make me so proud of the community I represent in this place as the member for Scullin. Melbourne's northern suburbs are so proudly multicultural, and these occasions are a great reminder of what this really means in a practical way—people coming together not just to celebrate their culture but to share it, and in doing so to strengthen the place we all get to call home. None of this happens and none of these events take place without so many volunteers giving of themselves their understanding and their time to bring people together. I want to thank them for that.

I'd like to acknowledge an inspiring person whose contribution has been recently recognised by others—my friend Ray Rosales, recently recognised with the Council on the Ageing Victoria Senior Achiever Award. Ray really is a deserving recipient of this award. He's someone who always gives, whether it's in his local community, to his local church, to First Nations communities or more broadly. Whenever there is work to be done, including in emergency services, Ray is found there. Congratulations, Ray, on a well-deserved recognition.