Paul Scarr (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration) Share this | Hansard source

I'd like to pay my deep respects and congratulations to the 2025graduating class of Goodna Special School. It was my absolute honour to attend their graduation ceremony earlier this month. I'd like to congratulate all the members of the class, the staff, the P&C and all of the families for this momentous occasion. In particular, I would like to congratulate the school captains, Jack Taylor and Maryanne Taikato. Also I'd like to congratulate Ozair Mohiuddin, who received the prestigious Milton Dick Award, named after and donated by my good friend the Speaker in the House of Representatives, which is a recognition of leadership and excellence that speaks volumes about his dedication and character. In closing, I'd like to quote from the speech that school captains Jack and Maryanne gave because I think there's a paragraph we should all take heed of:

Being School Captains has been such an honour. We learned that being a leader isn't about having all the answers. It's about helping others, working as a team, and making sure no one is left behind.

Congratulations to you, Jack and Maryanne, for a great job as a school captains. I'd like to congratulate the whole graduating class of 2025 from Goodna Special School.

We have a wonderful Kenyan community in my home state of Queensland. Kenyans in Queensland has done fabulous work over the course of the last 12 months. They've held cultural festivals, and they've reached out to Kenyan international students and provided assistance and support. Earlier this month, they held their annual gala and awards night dinner. At this dinner, I was very moved to meet a lady called Dr Diana Kenoly. Diana's brother, Felix Kwame Ruma, passed away recently in Queensland. I want to quote from Diana's email to me:

In this time of loss, our family has been deeply supported by the Kenyans in Queensland (KIQ) community, under the leadership of President Antony Kamau. Their guidance, compassion and unwavering support throughout the administrative and coronial processes and through the arrangements following Felix's passing have been invaluable. The family wishes to place on record their sincere appreciation for the remarkable efforts and the spirit of community embodied by the KIQ.

I would like to say something about Diana's brother, Felix, who passed. He established a really special relationship with the Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council. I want to quote some words from Mayor Bruce Simpson of the Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council:

Felix brought a sense of trust that's hard to measure, a rare gift in such a short window of acquaintance. His enthusiasm for uplifting the community, especially through empowering our youth with technology and artificial intelligence, was infectious.

…   …   …

Already, Felix's legacy is creating new possibilities for our young people and elders alike. He resonated with our shared vision by his powerful example of self-determination and community-building.

I'd like to acknowledge the contribution of the late Felix Kwame Ruma, and I'd also like to acknowledge the support Kenyans in Queensland gave to Felix's sister, Diana.

I was delighted to attend Lankan Fest 2025 in Melbourne on 16 November. This is a showcase of the best of Sri Lankan culture. It was a wonderful day, and I would like to congratulate the president of the organising committee, Dr Damitha de Mel, and all of his committee, all of the volunteers, all of the performers and everyone who contributed to this great day. To think: now in its 10th year, this day started when a group of people from our wonderful Sri Lankan Australian community got together in someone's lounge room in 2014. The first festival was in 2015, and it has grown and grown. Congratulations to our wonderful Sri Lanka community in Melbourne for this festival. It did rain during the day, but I was told this is a blessing in Sri Lankan culture, just as our wonderful Sri Lankan community is a blessing for Australia.