Julie Owens (Parramatta, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to commend to the House the excellent work of the Toongabbie Legal Centre. The Toongabbie Legal Centre is an outstanding organisation, with deep roots in the community and run to the highest professional standards, providing free legal advice to constituents in my electorate and surrounding areas when they most need it. The Toongabbie Legal Centre is the idea of a man I count as my friend, Mr Susai Benjamin, and is focused on helping those who may not meet the criteria for free legal advice from New South Wales Legal Aid. As well as free legal advice, the Toongabbie Legal Centre also delivers community legal education through presentations to a wide range of community groups. The service is kept going by a fabulous group of volunteers whom I cannot commend highly enough. For members of the community who would like advice on a legal issue, the Toongabbie Legal Centre operates from St Anthony’s Catholic Church in Toongabbie from six to nine o’clock on Thursday nights and also on Saturday mornings. Unfortunately, I missed last Friday night’s annual fundraising dinner, although I have been to several in the past, as I was attending a performance of the Sydney Chinese Dance Group but I hear from all accounts that the night was a great success. I want to take this opportunity to thank Susai Benjamin and all the volunteer staff who make the Toongabbie Legal Centre a fantastic service for our community. They do good work, and I thank them.