Jason Falinski (Mackellar, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Today I rise to inform the parliament of the inspirational program Bush to Beach, founded by Jack Cannon AM, president of Variety, the international children's charity. The Bush to Beach program connects the northern beaches of Sydney with young people from remote community of north-west New South Wales. It was borne from a simple call for help in 1992. Aunty Joyce Doole, a Brewarrina elder, reached out to Jack Cannon and Variety: one hundred children in her community had no Christmas presents—could he help? The issues these young people faced went far beyond this, of course. Importantly, they faced challenges in attending school. So Jack, in collaboration with Joyce, founded a program that would improve school attendance and social outcomes and give these children an experience unlike any other.

Many Australians have the great privilege of living on the doorstep of our renown beaches. But the bus from Brewarrina to Narrabeen takes 12 hours—a 24-hour round trip. Each year, young people aged six to 16 take this journey—a reward for good behaviour and excellent attendance. They learn surf and water safety so that they can look after themselves and others. They learn vital skills. I am proud to support Jack and the remarkable opportunities that the Bush to Beach program provides, and I urge others to do so.