Chris Hayes (Fowler, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Nothing better symbolises the spirit of Australia Day than the laughter and good cheer of the community coming together to celebrate their national pride. For a long time Australia has had a good reputation of welcoming immigrants and refugees from all quarters of the globe. A clear indication of this is seen in my electorate of Fowler, where more than 60 per cent of people were born overseas and have a first language other than English.

With pride, Australians from this multicultural community came together in great numbers on 26 January to rejoice and celebrate over a barbecue, which is after all the most traditional way of celebrating this most significant day. The barbecue was held at Freedom Plaza in Cabramatta. It was a great success, attracting more than 300 people from the local community. Apart from celebrating, the barbecue also importantly raised $6,000 for the Liverpool Hospital and the Westmead Millennium Institute for Medical Research.

I would like to thank Jenny Tew, President of the Cabramatta Lions Club; Adrian Wong, the Secretary of Cabramatta Lions Club' and the many volunteers from Cabramatta and Canley Vale Leo clubs who turned up to help on that day. Importantly, the Mayor of Fairfield, Councillor Frank Carbone, also lent his great support. Thanks to their tremendous efforts and valuable contributions, they have made and continue to make a very colourful, diverse and vibrant community, something that we are truly very proud of. Their contributions to our community at large have been most impressive. (Time expired)