Damian Drum (Nicholls, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Ahead of International Volunteer Day this Sunday, I'd like to pay tribute to the almost nine million volunteers across Australia who give their time for their communities. In particular, I'd like to thank the volunteers in my electorate of Nicholls for the tireless work that they do. As such, it gives me great pleasure that 42 volunteer organisations in Nicholls will share $120,000 of funding as part of the Liberal-National government's 2021 Volunteer Grants round. Among the groups to receive funding are the Echuca Moama Search & Rescue Squad, with Lyn Chaplin and James McKenzie-Ross, who are going to use their money for an infrared camera; Cobram Barooga RSL, where Sue Nicholson, Edelweiss Cortes, Glenda Mann and John Hanlon are going to use their money for a computer for their volunteers; Broadford Scouting Group, where Tanya Malward and David Dixon are going to purchase some camping equipment; Murchison CFA, where Jon Crowley and Tino Catania are going to undertake a kitchen upgrade for their facilities; Riding for the Disabled Association Echuca, where Tanya Lucas and Edwina Boase-Stratford are going to subsidise the cost of their camps; the Lions Club of Tatura with Malcolm Campbell and Glenda McLeod are going to create a website to attract more members and more volunteers; and Shepparton FoodShare, with Grace Grieve and Kate Smith, are going to purchase a pallet scale.

I can see firsthand the impacts that volunteering has in the Goulburn Valley and how hard these local volunteers work to strengthen our communities. I want to thank each and every one of them for the work that they do.