Rob Mitchell (McEwen, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I think the member for Grey should join the Lions Club, because we really could do with more people in Lions. It's a great thing, which is why I'm rising today to talk about a local legend, Jim France, Jim France joined the Lions back in 1996. Wherever there is a community need for volunteers, you will find Jim there without fail, an amazing human being—a good Carlton supporter, but we'll skip that one for the minute!

Recently, there was a great event held in Whittlesea where Jim France received a new award from Lions. He's been the president of Lions four times. He's been the club secretary six times, the club membership chair twice, the club service chair once and a director four times. Jim was instrumental in helping out during the bushfires after Black Saturday, when we received the most devastating news across our community. But he was there all the time. He was there for the running of the golf day that we do in conjunction with the Rotary Club. He was also involved in the famous Whittlesea Country Music Festival and has done the hard yards. He's one of those fellows that will get up, go down and volunteer to clean the community barbecues to make sure that, when people come to our town, there's somewhere nice and clean to eat at the Lions Park.

Jim received his James D Richardson Award, his Melvin Jones Fellowship and life membership. But what was great also was to see the community come together, with the Rotary Club Of Whittlesea attending—including Zach, Des and an old mate of mine, Lex de Man—and awarding the Paul Harris Fellow award to Jim. Jim's not a Rotarian, but that shows the respect that he has earned over his 30 years of service to our community, where he's been helping anyone at any time. It just shows the character of the man that Jim is—an amazing person.

When you read the Lions Code of Ethics, it says:

TO HOLD friendship as an end and not a means. To hold that true friendship exists not on account of the service performed by one to another, but that true friendship demands nothing but accepts service in the spirit in which it is given.

When you read this code of ethics, Jim espouses that absolutely sensationally. He is not a person who is there for the glory. He gets in there. He's there for the right reasons. We know that, when they do these things, people often lose their passion for glory, but Jim is one who does it. His wife, Robyn, is also an exceptional member of the Whittlesea Club.

Jim, as I said, is an amazing man. He's been a fantastic stalwart for the Whittlesea community. He's there at the Whittlesea Show when we're selling our tickets to raise money for our community. What it shows is that people who dedicate their time and energy across our communities are the backbone of what makes communities great. It's fantastic to be able to live in Whittlesea and know that Jim's around the corner and that he's always going to be available to help our community whenever he's needed, whether it's working up money for defibrillators or cleaning barbecues. Jim France, well done. Mate, you're an absolute star.