Fiona Phillips (Gilmore, Australian Labor Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

Today, I want to give a massive shout-out to a Shoalhaven legend, Ian Usher—better known locally as 'Pig'—who has raised more than $2 million for charities. For more than 40 years, Pig, a retired interstate truck driver, has been raising funds for a whole range of organisations, including the Shoalhaven hospital, Variety kids charity and, most recently, Beyond Blue as part of Team Shoalhaven in the Beyond Bitumen Rally. Pig is one of those down-to-earth genuine blokes who would give the shirt off his back to help others in need, and that's the way he's always been.

At just 18 years old, along with a then sergeant at Nowra Police Station, Pig started fundraising to buy the land to build the Shoalhaven PCYC in the early 1980s. When the club was finally built, Pig donated his gym equipment for kids to use. For the past 26 years, Pig has been involved in charity car rallies, and in 1992 he hosted the first Nowra truck show, which raised $15,000 for the family of a fellow truckie who was tragically killed in a truck accident in Cobargo. Pig was one of the people behind the amazing Shoalhaven Spring Festival Parade in Nowra, and the hospital bed race, and that ran for a few years. He also organised car shows at the Nowra Speedway. In 2015, Pig became involved with KidzFix Shoalhaven, a charity to help sick and disadvantaged children. He took over the speedway canteen, with all funds raised donated to KidzFix and Shoalhaven hospital.

In March, Pig, along with Team Shoalhaven BBR members Michael, Peter and Andy, raised more than $22,000 for Beyond Blue when they took part in the Beyond Bitumen rally from Canberra to Cowra. The team took on bush roads while raising funds to support men with mental health issues throughout Australia, as well as in our own community.

Pig is proud and humble and isn't too keen on fanfare, but he really is a legend in our community. He has been nominated for numerous volunteer, community and seniors awards, and was honoured with the 2024 Peta Murphy memorial trophy at the Beyond Bitumen rally. Just last month I was delighted to attend the Team Shoalhaven BBR Annual Truck Show. It was two days of revved-up family fun, with heaps of shiny big rigs, food and live entertainment at the Shoalhaven City Turf Club. An enormous thankyou to Pig—he insists we call him that—and his amazing team for all you do in our community and for bringing smiles to so many faces.