Steve Irons (Swan, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Shirley Mort is a resident of Rivervale in my electorate of Swan. Shirley has been a long-time volunteer and has now decided to retire at the age of 91. Shirley collected for the Salvation Army for 26 years at the Perth train station overpass, a corner that many know as 'Shirley's Spot' or 'Shirley's Corner'.

One of the things Shirley used to do when she got donations from children was to give them a small but cherished 'gift from Mrs Mort'—either a sticker or a colouring book—and she always greatly appreciated their donations. It is estimated that Shirley's efforts raised $1.7 million for the Salvation Army over the 26 years that she has been collecting at the Perth train station.

Shirley has been the Salvation Army's largest single collector during that period of time. She stood on the footbridge for about three days a week for about four hours per day. During that time, when she first started volunteering, Mrs Mort would wake up at 5 am six days a week, prepare hundreds of sandwiches and give them out to homeless people all around Perth. I would like to recognise Shirley Mort for her efforts for the homeless and the Salvation Army over the last 26 years.

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