Katie Allen (Higgins, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On this International Volunteer Day, I rise to honour the many thousands of volunteers in my electorate of Higgins. When I was a child growing up in Albury, there were many more stay-at-home mums than there are today. These women in country towns were the backbone of community and volunteer organisations. These days, with more women participating in the workforce in Australia each and every year, the competition for someone's volunteer hour has only become greater. Volunteerism now accounts for about 745 million unpaid working hours across Australia, the far-reaching value of which is immeasurable. I seek leave to incorporate the names of 41 people and their organisations in Higgins who were awarded special honours at this year's Higgins Community Service Awards that I presented recently at the Malvern Town Hall.

Leave granted.

The names read as follows—

Mr Doug Sloan, Blind Sports & Recreation Victoria

Mrs Margaret Badge, Carnegie Church of Christ

Ms Eleni Karamihos, Caulfield Bears Junior Football Club

Miss Hadas Belfer, Chabad Malvern

Miss Moussia Cooper, Chabad Malvern

Miss Rachel de Winter, Chabad Malvern

Ms Moran Dvir, Do Good Volunteers - Twelve and Thirteen

Rabbi Reuvi Cooper, Do Good Volunteers - Twelve and Thirteen

Ms Lauren Ch'ng, East Malvern Junior Football Club

Ms Lindy Francou, Glen Eira Football Club

Mr Jan Gnatt, Glen Iris Junior Football Club

Mr Stephen Prossor, 1st Glen Iris Scout Group

Mr Lefteris Patlamazoglou, Inclusion Melbourne

Ms Pam Elias, JoCare

Mr John Finemore, Malvern Bowling Club

Mrs Diane Foster, Malvern Historical Society Inc.

Mr Glenn Meredith, Malvern Lacrosse Club

Mr Mark Huggins, Malvern Marlins Masters Swimming Club

Mr Darren Trevaskis, 13th Malvern Scout Group

Mrs Susan Banks, Malvern Special Needs Playgroup

Mr Peter Schneider, Rotary Club of Prahran

Mr Geoff Wenham, Mecwacare

Mr Karl Hieser, Prahran Cricket Club

Mr Keith Gove, Reconciliation Stonnington

Ms Linda Hughes, Rotary Chadstone East Malvern

Mr Ian Kirk, Rotary Club of Toorak

Ms Jan Sigley, Rotary Club of Toorak

Ms Holly Brick, Samarinda - Residential Lodge

Ms Shelley Lampier, Samarinda - Quality, Risk & Strategy Team

Mr Glen McKay, Samarinda - Elsie Salter House

Mr Chris Rodier, Samarinda - Social Support

Ms Glenda Watts, Samarinda - Ashy Op Shop

Mr Robert Wilkinson, Samarinda - Meals on Wheels

Mr William Logie, St James' Anglican Church Glen Iris

Mr James Gallus, St Mary's Salesian Amateur Football Club

Mrs Kerry Ennis, St Oswald's Anglican Church

Mrs Carol Harrison, St Oswald's Anglican Church

Mr Michael Doble, St Kevin's Football Club

Dr Aaron Sudholz, Stonnington City Brass

Mr Michael Delanis, VICSES Malvern Unit

Vietnamese Senior Cultural Association

It was a wonderful night where we honoured volunteers from across a huge and diverse range of community organisations in Higgins, including sporting groups, Scouts, Rotary, churches and temples, aged-care facilities and state emergency services. Friends and families were there to celebrate the wonderful work of these dedicated volunteers in giving back to the community. We know they didn't volunteer in order to be recognised, but recognising and celebrating them we must, as it also recognises and celebrates the great work of their volunteer organisations. I congratulate them all, and I wish them all a very merry Christmas.