Brian Mitchell (Lyons, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am sure every member here will join me in thanking our incredible volunteers across the country. Last week was National Volunteer Week. I would like to thank the volunteers in my electorate for the amazing work that they do, not to mention a few of the organisations in my electorate whose volunteers make a huge difference to the lives of people in the community who are doing it tough.

Barb Baker runs Helping Hands based in Longford. Samantha Sayers runs a community pantry in the Derwent Valley and Theresa Temple is a house manager of Bridgewater Neighbourhood House. The thing they all have in common is they are providing food relief for families who need it most and for people doing it tough. Some also offer donated household items to those who need them most. People like Barb, Theresa, Samantha and the volunteers of these organisations can be somebody's last hope, a touch of positivity and kindness for people in a dark time. They make a real difference to people's lives.

I'd also like to mention the incredible volunteers who put together AgFest Rural Youth; the volunteers who put together the Derwent Valley Autumn Festival—a raging success in the last few weeks; the Lachlan Fire Brigade; the Sheffield SteamFest; and of course the footy volunteers, who, week-in, week-out, are in the kitchens, manning the grounds, doing the umpiring. Volunteers—where would we be without you?