Russell Matheson (Macarthur, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to congratulate Macarthur's Focus on Families volunteers for taking out the award of volunteer team of the year at the New South Wales Volunteer of the Year Awards. Focus on Families' 48 volunteers provide targeted support to families with infants and young children, which come from all cultural backgrounds in the Campbelltown local government area. Through home visit programs, parenthood groups and prenatal services, Focus volunteers enrich parenting experiences and assist with the healthy growth and development of young children. The volunteers at Focus have touched the lives of hundreds of families since its inception over 20 years ago, including the families of five sets of triplets born in the local area in the past 12 months.

Last Friday, I was very proud to see Focus on Families recognised for their valuable contribution to Macarthur at the 2014 Volunteer of the Year Awards ceremony at the Campbelltown Catholic Club. The ceremony was part of the New South Wales state-wide volunteer of the year awards, which aim to acknowledge and celebrate the work of those in the local community who generously give up their time to help others. Volunteers are the heart and soul of the Macarthur community and should be recognised for their selfless commitment. Fittingly, Focus volunteers were recognised at the ceremony as silent achievers, nurturing, guiding and supporting parents on life's most rewarding and fulfilling experiences.

I would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the Centre for Volunteering for organising the state-wide awards program, as well as ClubsNSW and the New South Wales Department of Education and Communities for generously sponsoring the event. It was great to attend it with my state colleagues Jai Rowell, Bryan Doyle and Chris Patterson.

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