John McVeigh (Groom, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The recent Hang Your Boss Out to Dry fundraiser in Toowoomba saw a number of our business and community leaders placed high up in a cherry picker and spending their Friday morning seeking donations to raise money for the Toowoomba Hospice. They called in donations from friends, family and work colleagues. Only when they had raised at least $1,000 were they allowed back on to solid ground.

The hospice provides care to anyone with a life-limiting health condition when their doctor believes them to be at the end stage of their illness. They do this free of charge. It relies heavily on the local community to raise funds needed for the activities and the care that they provide. This year's event raised more than $23,000 in just three hours. Over the past 14 years, the hospice has cared for more than 1,280 patients. It is, truly, a service that is worth being 'hung out to dry' for.

On behalf of our community, my congratulations and appreciation go to chairman, Graham Barron OAM; manager, Mark Munroe; director of nursing, Allison Leech; and the entire staff and volunteer team at the Toowoomba Hospice. As a fair dinkum philanthropic community, Toowoomba and the Darling Downs regularly get behind the hospice. We all look forward to continuing to do so through their fundraising activities and other events through the annual calendar.