Andrew Nikolic (Bass, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

In recent weeks, service clubs in my electorate of Bass have donated generously to The Examiner Winter Relief Appeal. The Rotary Club of central Launceston donated $3,000 and the Lions Club of Kings Meadows donated $5,000. The Launceston Examiner is one of Australia's oldest newspapers, and is a multi-award winning newspaper. It has been running public fundraising appeals since 1908, when it started its annual Empty Stocking Appeal. The newspaper covers all of the administrative costs of the appeal and distributes all of the funds to four local charities—Launceston City Mission, St Vincent de Paul, the Benevolent Society and the Salvation Army.

Donations come from every section of the community—from schoolchildren, service clubs, sporting clubs and small business to major corporations. And there is the occasional anonymous philanthropist, as well. The money raised helps people who struggle to make ends meet at a time of the year when they face extra expenses in heating, clothing and bedding. Public donations to this appeal total around $50,000 each year. On today's values, it has raised more than $2 million since its inception.

For a community that has weathered its fair share of financial hardship over the years, the response to this appeal is simply remarkable. It is evidence of a generous and compassionate community. I applaud editor Martin Gilmour and his staff at TheExaminer for running this appeal. I congratulate the people of northern Tasmania for their strong and continuing support of it.

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