Tony Pasin (Barker, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to acknowledge the efforts over the weekend of the organising committee and participants in the Murraylands Relay for Life held at the Sturt Reserve Murray Bridge that I had the privilege of opening. This year's event saw 29 teams register, an increase from 22 last year, and $72,000 raised, an outstanding achievement and an increase of over $20,000 on last year's efforts. The event is a credit to the members of the organising committee, and I wish to pay particular tribute to Eileen Newbury, Ashley Duncan, Heather Buddle, Keith Simmons, Rose Simmons, Sharon Pearson, Jamie Lee Jones and Tanya Sircone.

This fundraising effort supports the exceptional work of the Cancer Council in South Australia, an organisation that received 182 calls to their helpline from the local Murray Mallee community alone and supported 1,537 people from the Murray Mallee with accommodation in their Adelaide based lodges for a total of 3,970 nights over the last 12 months.

I also pay tribute to the Costa Group and the management and staff of their Adelaide Mushrooms facility. Of the 260 people employed at that facility, 128 participated in the Relay for Life event this year, raising over $7,000. That was despite the fact that it was a heavy picking day, with many people volunteering after 12 hours of work. This participation continues the fine tradition of support for this event by Adelaide Mushrooms that began under the stewardship of the facility's former owners, the Schirripa family.

I commend the efforts of all participants and, in particular, the management and staff of Costa Adelaide for their efforts on their day. (Time expired)