Kevin Andrews (Menzies, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I take this opportunity to praise the work of the Women's Friendship Group in Manningham. The Women's Friendship Group is a non-denominational, non-political, multicultural group. The women who comprise this community organisation come from 33 different ethnic backgrounds. Founded in 1996, as the name implies it is about building friendships between people of different backgrounds and different interests. There are a number of activities which are conducted by the Women's Friendship Group—social activities, strength exercise activities and craft activities.

Most importantly, they run two social justice programs. The first is a domestic program in which they make garments for a variety of health institutions—some 2,000 in recent years. The second program is an international program where they support the village of Kanthi in eastern Kenya. They have connected water, built a water kiosk and a greenhouse, opened a kindergarten and are about to open a medical centre in this village of Kanthi in eastern Kenya. I congratulate the group. I particularly congratulate and commend Helen Jurcevic, who was recently awarded the Order of Australia Medal for her work. This is a great example of community activity in practice.

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