Mal Brough (Fisher, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

On 14 May, during Volunteer Week, I am going to hold a major celebration at Australia Zoo embracing what makes the Sunshine Coast great: the over 7,000 volunteers who represent more than 130 diverse organisations and really are the glue that makes the Sunshine Coast special.

Today I just want to pay tribute to some of those people and organisations and, in doing so, thank Terri, Bindi and Bob Irwin for the generosity of opening their zoo to the people of the Sunshine Coast. Entry for volunteers will be free. We will have a great celebration. We will be able to look at each other and say, 'These people in this room, whether they give an hour or a week or work every day of the year, contribute to make the Sunshine Coast what it is.'

There are such diverse organisations such as the Wildlife Warriors, which are based at the zoo, the Night Eyes Water and Landcare group, all the RSL sub-branches, ComLink, the Morris House Neighbourhood Centre and the neighbourhood centres right across the electorate. There is the Queensland Air Museum, the Kawana Senior Citizens, RACQ CareFlight, Conondale Range Conservation Association, the Rotary clubs, the Lions clubs and also GMAN, which is the Glasshouse Mountains Advancement Network. There is also Native Bee Rescue, Friends of Maleny Library and Reefcheck. As you can see, it is an incredibly diverse group which includes fire brigades, refuges for animals and St Vincent de Paul. I congratulate them all, I thank them all and I welcome them to Australia Zoo on 14 May.

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