Steve Georganas (Hindmarsh, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to pay tribute to the many wonderful people in the Hindmarsh electorate who choose to serve their community through their good volunteer works. Volunteers who contribute so much through their clubs, organisations, churches and other networks truly are the cornerstone of our community. I know that we all have them in our electorates.

Some volunteers have been nominated by their peers for a 2012 National Volunteers Award for their exceptional contributions to our community. Vivien Shae has taught English and served the Chinese community through Chinese Welfare Services in a variety of positions since 2004. She has also been chair of the Chinese Ethnic School and puts hours and hours of volunteer work into the Chinese Ethnic School. Pamela Nayda of Lockleys Senior Citizens Club has held the position of president and secretary of the club for 14 years, handling all aspects of the club's organisation and functioning, as well as assisting club members in their daily lives. I visit them on a regular basis and see firsthand the great work that Pamela Nayda does for the community. Patrick Smith is a volunteer at West Beach Primary School. He is on the governing council and helps with school planning, working bees, extra tuition for students and the school concert, which he puts together every year—all this as a volunteer. Barbara Biggins has volunteered with the Australian Council on Children and the Media and its forerunners for almost 40 years, spearheading its advocacy work and promoting healthy media experiences for children. It is very important work and, again, she is a volunteer. Marion Sullivan has also volunteered with the Australian Council on Children and the Media and its forerunners for almost 40 years, the last 20 with the condition of chronic lymphatic leukaemia. Marion has acted as company secretary, treasurer, children's film festival coordinator and other roles.

Another great person in the electorate, and a very good friend of mine, is Francesco Violi. Frank, as we all know him within the western suburbs, in the Mile End area, has volunteered in numerous capacities over some 30-plus years with the Queen of Angels Catholic Church and has been President of Italian Pensioners of Thebarton for many years. He organises social events, including picnics, for senior people of the local Italian community, as well as a whole range of other things. He offers a great service for some of our older constituents. Bob Wright of the Kiwanis Club of Reedbeds Incorporated has contributed to the club's community service projects for well over 24 years, including as club director of community services and club treasurer.

Lorelei Siegloff has been an active volunteer and community member of Torrensville Primary School over the last three years, including two years as governing council chairperson, contributing to the community. She also has convened the community garden action group since 2010. Both Bill and Hildegarde Dow have been nominated by the All Saints Uniting Church council. They spend many hours each week in pastoral care, looking after people of their congregation, visiting people in hospitals, nursing homes and retirement villages, and assisting people in need everywhere. Another great person is Wayne Honeychurch, who has contributed a great deal to the South Australian Veterans Touring Group. My office has a lot to do with Wayne Honeychurch, who has been raising funds for orphanages in Vietnam for a number of years. The group raises funds and distributes the goods in Vietnam. They help to keep the orphanage groups in Vietnam up and running.

Terry Saunderson has been a member of the Rotary Club of West Torrens for 33 years—for many years as an officeholder—and the South Australian Historical Society for 11 years, and has contributed in many ways to different parts of our wider community. Mary Rogan became a member of Immanuel college's Parents and Friends Association in 1980 and has volunteered in and around the college ever since. Mary's tremendous work includes various simultaneous roles, such as running the clothing market and volunteering in the library. Thomas James Murphy has devoted over 30 years to the sport of canoeing and kayaking, introducing hundreds of young people to the sport through various roles, including as an organiser of the Duke of Edinburgh schools team challenge and as an official at state, national and international competitions. Ann Andrews assists Lockleys Preschool with fundraising events and sources materials for new enrolees and special programs, as well as doing a range of other volunteer work with them.

Tricia Clement is the secretary for the Riding for the Disabled group at O'Halloran Hill, club liaison officer with COTSA, volunteer consultant at the City of Marion and craft coordinator at Ascot Park Primary School, which nominated her for this award. Janice Hedger is a 17-year member for the local Probus Club and an 11-year member of the Active Elders, all of which has been spent in a very active management role. Her work on securing grants and funds for the club is exemplary. (Time expired)

See this speech in context