Rob Mitchell (McEwen, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

It was an honour to recently attend the Rotary Shine on Awards, hosted by the Rotary Club of Diamond Creek. The Shine on Awards are an annual Australia-wide Rotary recognition program that acknowledges exceptional service to others by people living with disabilities. It was here that I met Peter Talbot, the president of the Lions Club of Eltham and recipient of the 2023-24 Shine on Award. Peter has committed his life to volunteering in his community despite coping with serious neurological and other health issues caused by birth trauma. Navigating many day-to-day challenges, Peter has held strong to his upbringing, which taught him to believe that community is just an extension of family and that you should always care for each other. Peter has a positive attitude and a belief that no-one should ever be afraid to fail, and that drives him to succeed. He doesn't give up, as shown in his commitment to learn to read and write, which he achieved in his 20s.

Peter became the president of the Eltham Lions Club in 2021 and continues to be a dedicated volunteer with Community Volunteers of Eltham, which supports children and teenagers in the community who are victims of domestic violence. We recently celebrated National Volunteer Week 2024, with this year 's theme being 'Something for Everyone'. Peter epitomises that very theme. He proves that everyone has something to offer as a volunteer, no matter what your limitations may be, as long as you have the determination to focus on what you can do and not what you can't do.

I also want to acknowledge Warwick Leeson OAM, the president of the Diamond Creek Rotary Club, and David Palermo, who was the MC for the day, as well as a great speech by guest Harry Mezger, a Special Olympian.

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