Glenn Sterle (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise proudly to mention to everyone who wants to listen that I just completed another mattress run up to the Kimberley. It's been a fantastic time. I want to thank Don Bantock from Bedshed. Everyone knows what I do. Thanks Don—105 king and queen sized mattresses destined for the elderly in Derby, Beagle Bay, Ardyaloon, Lombadina and Djarindjin. I want to thank Ray Christophers from Nirrumbuk Environmental Health and Services for his help and my very dear friend Justin Cardaci from Centurion Transport. You want to talk about the price of fuel? I fuelled up in Port Headland and watched $3,000 dollars worth of fuel go into the tanks, and we were only halfway to where we were going. So I know all about it.

I want to make a special thank you for this mattress that run we do and that you know I'm so proud to do three or four times a year to help the needy, the elderly and the victims of domestic violence. I was having a chat to my very dear friend Peter Marshall from the United Firefighters Union about this, and Peter said: 'Jeez, that's something that is in our wheelhouse. We wouldn't mind.' He said, 'Glenn, do you want a hand to load?' I said: 'Look, I wouldn't mind, Pete. That'd be great!' Pete is from Melbourne. He said, 'I think we'll rustle up a couple of blokes.' Well, I rolled up at seven o'clock there three Thursdays ago to start loading three trailers—I nearly said 'bugger me', sorry; I won't say that!—and, darn, there were no fewer than 20 firefighters from WA, and a couple had come across from Victoria. They were proudly in their uniforms on their day off and wanted to make their contribution. I was absolutely overwhelmed. I know, when you look at this bronzed adonis on his two feet here, you'd think he'd be able to do it on his own nowadays. But, no, I desperately need that help. I was so thankful.

Don, who owns Bedshed in Osborne Park was absolutely gobsmacked. I don't think he's ever had that many firefighters. I think he actually started packing his daks in case he didn't have his fire extinguishers up to speed! I said: 'It's alright, Don. They're with us. They're giving us a hand.' To Peter and the UFU: guys, thank you so much for your help.