Chris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Last Friday I held my annual older Australians morning tea awards at the Smithfield RSL. It's always a great function—I've done it now for many years—where we come together and celebrate older Australians and their contributions to our community. I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge in the House some of the recipients of the awards. Desmond Metcalf has volunteered at Fairfield Food Services meals on wheels service for many years—over a decade. Rita George works with newly arrived refugees, helping them learn English and assisting with their paperwork in our community. Our community welcomes may refugees, and Rita does great work. Nancy De Guzman works for Meals on Wheels and has been delivering to the sick and elderly since 2010. Joanna Salillas, the former auditor and treasurer of the Philippine Australian Society for Senior Citizens, helps older Filipino Australians in their day-to-day lives. Sophia Stephanicev gives her time as a volunteer hospital guide at Westmead Hospital. Theresa Quattromani and Josephine Borg, who together founded the Horsley Park Community Social Group and Friends, have for the last 15 years organised Australia's Biggest Morning Tea at Horsley Park. I've been many times. They have raised over $300,000 for the Cancer Council. The event is now so big that Channel 7 comes to Australia's Biggest Morning Tea at Horsley Park. Jan Galmes has volunteered her time for over 10 years at Southern Cross Greystanes Residential Aged Care. Vera Critchley has been a volunteer at Westmead Hospital for 18 years and is a former president of the Ringrose Avenue school mothers' club. David Sarkis gives up his time working with St Hurmizd Assyrian church. Irene Lazar does volunteer work for St Zaia church, and has done so for 15 years. William Lazar has been the leader of his seniors group for the last nine years. Ludi Vaga is a volunteer at St Mary's church. It was her 70th birthday that morning, and I do confess to the House that I did lead the several hundred people who were present in 'Happy Birthday' for Ludi. Juliet Khoshaba has volunteered at St Mary's church for seven years. Evilen Giyou is a volunteer at The Parks community centre. Lou Szymkow has served for 10 years at St Vinnies at the Holy Spirit conference in St Clair. Romeo Zamora Cayabyab has been active in the Filipino community for many years. Coral Hamiltom is a tireless worker at Linnwood, a historic house in Guildford in my electorate. She coordinates the catering and cooking for visitors. Ray Jordan is the ex-president of the Mount Druitt senior citizens club. He would be known to the member for Chifley; he's a wonderful man.

Ed Husic (Chifley, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Who? Him or me? Both!

Chris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Ray Jordan. Wayne Trindall has been a director of Guildford Leagues Club for 15 years and is heavily involved in fundraising for different causes. He also volunteers for Cumberland Council meals on wheels and assists elderly residents with weekly shopping.

Finally, for the last two years I've instituted a new award. I haven't always done this, but for two years now, we have awarded the McMahon Older Australian of the Year to somebody who deserves that little bit of extra recognition. They're all very worthy recipients, but the McMahon Older Australian of the Year is an award that we now present. I think all present on the day—and I'm sure all members of the House would agree—that James Ratcliffe was a worthy winner of the McMahon Older Australian of the Year. He's a 94-year-old returned serviceman who still serves his Neighbourhood Watch as treasurer. He's still active in the Guildford Red Cross. He's the deputy president of Hewitt House Community Centre and also assists Merrylands police with youth at risk. He is an active participant in the community garden at Granville South high school and has been a justice of the peace for 52 years.

Again, the older Australian morning tea is a highlight in our calendar. Many people come every year. We always have some people for whom it's their first performance. I want to thank Smithfield RSL for joining me in hosting it. I couldn't do it without Smithfield RSL's support. We arranged the entertainment from Danny Elliot, a very accomplished international artist who sang and performed for us on the day. We have a great morning. We celebrate older Australians and everything they've contributed to our community. It's a very important day for me as the member for McMahon. It's good when it comes between two sitting weeks. It's quite a change of scenery and pace from parliament. It's good to celebrate with older Australians their achievements and their contribution to our community. They've worked hard all their lives and they use their retirement to give back. An older Australia morning tea is a wonderful opportunity to thank them and celebrate their achievements.