Anne Aly (Cowan, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Early Childhood Education) Share this | Hansard source

I rise today to congratulate Brother Thomas Oliver Pickett, better known as Brother Olly, on being named the Senior Australian of the Year for Western Australia. As the member for Cowan, I've had the distinct honour of working alongside some of the most exceptional individuals—people whose dedication and passion for our community are nothing short of inspiring. These are individuals who work tirelessly to support the most vulnerable among us, day in and day out, with an unwavering commitment and enthusiasm. They don't do it for recognition and they don't do it for personal gain. They do it because they care. They care for those who can't care for themselves. They care for those in vulnerable situations and, most importantly, they care for the dignity and the respect of others. They do all of this with humility, with selflessness and with a heart full of compassion. Brother Olly Pickett is one of those extraordinary individuals, and this is a well-deserved recognition of the tireless work that he has done.

In 1996, Brother Olly co-founded Wheelchairs for Kids, an organisation committed to providing adjustable wheelchairs and occupational therapy expertise to children in developing countries. Since then, more than—wait for it—61,000 custom-built wheelchairs have been gifted to children across 81 developing countries as well as to remote Australian First Nations communities. All of this has been made possible from right in the heart of Cowan in Wangara, which I'm proud to say is a suburb that will soon be back within the electorate of Cowan next year.

What makes Wheelchairs for Kids even more remarkable is its foundation of volunteers. There are more than 250 people volunteering their time in the workshops—and, if anyone has ever visited a Wheelchairs for Kids workshop in Wangara, it is absolutely amazing to see the evolution of one of these wheelchairs that gets shipped over to children in developing countries. There are over 550 other people who volunteer, from local community groups sewing wheelchair covers, crocheting rugs—one of my favourite things—and making soft toys. It's become one of Western Australia's largest volunteer-driven charities.

The success of Wheelchairs for Kids is a testament to Brother Olly's philosophy—if you're passionate about something you can make it happen. He's 83 years old, but I've got to tell you: I wish I had his boundless energy, even at my age! His boundless energy and passion continue to inspire hundreds of volunteers who share his vision. Thank you and congratulations, Brother Olly, on this well-deserved accolade.

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