Terry Young (Longman, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Recently I was contacted by an old schoolmate of mine who was a local police officer in Caboolture and has now been stationed in northern Queensland for around 20 years. He contacted me and said that he'd had a real breakthrough with improving the kids' behaviour in the town where he was stationed by organising a regular rugby league team amongst them all. But they faced the problem of no boots for these kids because most just couldn't afford them.

I sent an SOS out to a few of the local clubs and businesses in the Longman community. I'm pleased to report that about two weeks later I was able to send four large crates containing around a hundred footy boots to this community. This was thanks to the wonderful generosity of the Burpengary Jets Junior Rugby League Club, who rallied the parents, who in turn donated boots that in many cases were near new because, as we know, teenagers grow out of their boots pretty quickly and, sadly, many times these boots in great condition just end up in the bin.

I also want to shout out to INTERSPORT at Morayfield, a locally owned and operated business who generously gave these kids four brand-new pairs of boots still in their boxes. This has inspired me to start a program that will encourage people to drop used boots in good condition into crates, and I will supply these crates to any clubs in the Longman electorate that are interested. We will then send them to remote communities around Queensland who are doing it tough. So, Johnno, thanks for the message, mate. Great things often come from a small spark.