Kevin Hogan (Page, National Party, Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

After having been cancelled last year, it's great to see many of our country shows bouncing back this year. The Maclean Show is one of the first on the calendar in my region. I'd like to acknowledge those competing in the showgirl sections. The junior showgirls include Neeve Fischer, Ella Jeffery, Emily Connelly, April Shannon, Skye Harrison and Madeline Hollis, and the senior showgirls competing this year are Grace Boulton, Hayley Johnson, Maneesha Davis, Alyssa Luland and Amber Gravolin.

I'd also like to acknowledge the show executive, who make this event happen—Brian Ferrie, Leigh-Ann Messer, Nicole Cowling, Jackie Sykes and Pru Ensby. Other members include Endessa Schradar, Brian Farrell, Col Marsh, Robbie Sutherland, Ashley Lee, Tracy Moran, Warren Apps, Brian Donaghy and Narelle Green. Jane Jesser is coordinating the activities from the Clydesdale Building, and John McLennan is in charge of the show jumping. Also assisting with the pavilions are Louise Ferrie, Helen Hamilton and Marilyn Donalen, and George Sutherland is coordinating this year's Young Farmer Challenge.

I can't talk about this year's Maclean Show without mentioning the late Bruce Green, who sadly passed away earlier in the year. He was deeply involved in many of the Clarence Valley shows, and 'Greenie' will be missed this year.

The show takes place—

A division having been called in the House of Representatives—

Sitting suspended from 16:17 to 16:29

I'd like to recognise a great young leader of my community who is the 2021 ABC Heywire winner. Paris Brailsford is in year 12 at Maclean High School and has a great history of volunteering, youth advocacy and leadership positions. Her winning story in this year's Heywire is a very moving recount of the recent bushfires. Paris was mentally prepared for the worst, that the villages of Angourie and Wooloweyah would be no more because of the fire. All that stood between the fire and the villages was a band of courageous firies who had left their homes to fight for others. As she woke up the next day over breakfast and heard the news that not one single home was lost, she knew that we owed it all to our firefighters. The last sentence of her story was:

Heroes don't always wear capes; my heroes wear helmets.

It was a great contribution to Heywire. Paris is also a volunteer surf lifesaver and has been awarded numerous awards, including the Junior Surf Lifesaver of the Year in 2018. She's an avid member of the Student Representative Council. She has taken part in student leadership conferences, UN Youth Australia, Young Australians in International Affairs, and the Country to Canberra program. She's been elected as a youth MP twice at the New South Wales Youth Parliament. She's participated in a range of public speaking, debating and political negotiation competitions, placing fourth in Australia and first in New South Wales at the My First Speech Competition with her speech on racism. She's also just been appointed a member of the Regional Youth Taskforce for the New South Wales government. Congratulations, Paris, on your wonderful achievements.