Amanda Rishworth (Kingston, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise today to acknowledge the generosity of my local community in southern Adelaide who came together to collect donations for the most vulnerable people in need over the holiday season.

My office acted as a drop-off point to collect donations to help local charities and animal shelters over the Christmas period. It was a huge success again this year, and we received a huge number of donations, including hundreds of toys, hundreds of toiletries and thousands of food donations not to mention a whole lot of pet products.

Our office was overflowing with donations, and t hese items were donated to a number of organisations: toys were donated to Junction Australia; food was donated to Anglicare Christies Beach and The Vines Uniting Church; toiletries were donated to St Vincent d e Paul; and pet food and blankets were donated to the Lonsdale RSPCA. These organisations do a great job in supporting those in need in our community.

The generosity of the people involved in collecting donations was wonderful to witness. I would like to thank all the individuals, schools, sporting groups, childcare centres, businesses, aged-care facilities and community groups who donated this Christmas.

I would like to make some special mentions of some particular efforts that were noteworthy. A number of organisations dug deep and contributed greatly to the cause. These included: Aldinga and Sellicks Spinners, Knitters, Weavers and Felters; 50-plus Activity Club; Spectrum Art Group; Southern District Midweek Ladies Tennis Club, Morphett Vale; Morphett Vale Tennis Club; Lions Club of Hallett Cove and District; Noarlunga Community Children's Centres; Perry Park aged care; and Cove sports club.

There were also many individuals who made a significant contribution. I would like to recognise Jo and Carey Habel, who brought in stuffed animals; Rhonda Smith, who donated a Christmas tree, decorations, dog food, toiletries and toys; and Peter Rayner, who donated cinema tickets. Ian Macfarlane and his two children, Martin Harderer and Ian Fitzgerald, all generously donated to the appeal as well. Everyone in the southern suburbs of Adelaide who donated showed a huge amount of compassion and care, and this was heartening to see.

Christmas can be a very difficult time for many people. It can be a difficult time for people who are struggling, who do not have the food and toys they need. Our community worked very hard together to ensure that Christmas was a little better for those who had not very much. So I would like to again thank everyone who participated, who collected donations. It was a wonderful effort and it was wonderful to see that the giving spirit was truly alive and well this Christmas.