Keith Wolahan (Menzies, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We have the great honour, in this Chamber and in the other one, of rising to acknowledge the work of volunteers. It was Winston Churchill who said, 'We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.' I would like to single out some volunteers in my community who were recently recognised in the Manningham Civic Awards.

The award for 2024 Citizen of the Year went to Brian Tyedin. I know Brian very well, and many of you might know his voice. He is the president and a presenter on 96.5 Inner FM. He's a volunteer. He works tirelessly and constantly for ways to support and serve the community in a variety of different ways. He has the time and the energy to go above and beyond. When I meet Brian at events, he's smiling, and I smile. It's infectious. I'm so proud to see him given this award. In particular, they singled out him being a champion of the Rotary movement, particularly the Rotary Manningham City branch. I just want to say how proud I am of you, Brian.

I'd also like to acknowledge two winners of the Doreen Stoves Volunteer of the Year Award, Luke Bastian and Kate Gniel. Luke has played a crucial role in the scouting community for more than two decades, as well as Rotary and Doncaster Baseball Club. He is a dedicated member of the Manningham community. As you can see, volunteers who give in one area, more often than not, give in many others. The other award winner, Kate, is an outstanding individual who consistently makes a remarkable impact in the community through her volunteering efforts. Over the past few years Kate has dedicated her time and energy to enhancing and enriching the lives of others, including the Sharks Junior Football Club. Thank you, Kate.

I'd also like to acknowledge the Community Organisation of the Year Award, which went to the Rotary Club of Manningham City. There are so many dedicated volunteers in that Rotary club who consistently turn up and give their most precious asset: their time. They're busy people; they have lives and other jobs, but they give their time to the service of others, and I thank them for it.

Finally, I go to the Sports Volunteer of the Year, Anthony Milicia. Anthony dedicates himself to volunteering with the Manningham Juventus Football Club as if it were a second job. He sets a positive example for motivating others, and his actions are a source of inspiration for the whole team.

So congratulations to all of the winners. I am extremely proud of you, and I'm proud to have recognised you here.