Michelle Landry (Capricornia, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

Tucked away in a tranquil pocket of forest in my electorate of Capricornia lies a little gem of the region, a hideaway for veterans who need to get away from it all or need someone to lean on. Cockscomb Veterans Bush Retreat provides a unique and incredibly valuable resource to Central Queensland's extensive veteran community. The idea for this retreat came from a group of local Vietnam veterans, and was made possible by the generosity of local psychologist Bruce Acutt. Through his work and amazing generosity, Bruce developed incredibly strong relationships within the veteran community, and his gift of a parcel of land would see the start of Cockscomb's development. Bruce not only donated the land but also worked tirelessly with the vets to physically build what has become a truly special place. Bruce is held in the highest esteem by the veteran community, particularly among Vietnam vets, and his death last year at the age of just 65 has left them without a very dear friend. The veterans of Cockscomb will this weekend unveil their newest infrastructure, a retired military shed, and I'm proud to have helped deliver it. This new structure will be unveiled as the Bruce Acutt Centre, a final salute to Bruce's immense benevolence and mateship. I look forward to helping open this new shed and humbly salute the late Bruce Acutt.

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