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

It was with much pleasure that I recently hosted our honourable Speaker of the House of Representatives on a visit to Rockhampton. Madam Speaker spent time with Year 12 girls from five high schools as a motivational speaker encouraging young women, and she addressed a business lunch hosted by Capricorn Enterprise.

Madame Speaker also addressed 91 women at a women's breakfast hosted by CQUniversity at its Willby's training restaurant. CQU recently merged with CQ TAFE to become Queensland's first dual-sector university. The meal and service was provided by students undertaking certificate training in kitchen and hospitality duties. During the breakfast $500 was raised for the Zonta breast care cushion program.

Rockhampton's Zonta President, Rosalie Welburn, explained that Zonta volunteers hand-sew special cushions for women who have undergone surgery for breast cancer. The cushions are handed out in local hospitals to women who have had a breast removed and required immediate support in their breast area. This is a very personal service that Zonta provides to our community.

Nationwide, up to 15,000 are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. The diagnosis and subsequent surgery can have a devastating psychological impact. I commend Zonta for their support of women who are faced with such a predicament.