Paul Fletcher (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Rhys Hibbert of St Ives High School is an inspiring young constituent of mine. When he was 18 months old Rhys was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia and underwent extensive treatment which, happily, was successful. His resilience and strength led him to set up Donate for Life, a charitable organisation which is doing important work. This charity encourages young people to register their stem cells on the Australian Bone Marrow Donor Registry and to donate blood products to Lifeblood when they turn 18.

Rhys also participated in the Youth Voice in Parliament competition organised by Raise Our Voice, which encourages young people under the age of 25 to write a short speech about the issues that matter most to them. I received several impressive proposed speeches from young constituents. I thank all of them and I will post all speeches on my website, but I have chosen Rhys's speech to read out. Rhys wrote:

My name is Rhys. I am a 17-year-old who lives in the electorate of Bradfield. In 10 years time I want my community to be much more encouraging of young people. In 10 years, I want young people to be seen as the biggest givers, the biggest donors. What do I mean? I mean that our ageing population is going to need young people to donate. They need us to donate our time, our blood products, stem cells and our organs. We have to now encourage young people to learn how they will be important parts of our future society. We need to encourage them more to become donors and help other people. We need young people to be at the centre of the giving community and acknowledged as such. We need to encourage, as the words of John F. Kennedy said: ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country. Today we have to put in place ways that young people are rewarded by giving to society in whatever way they can. This is not the 'me' society but the 'us' society.

Those are fine words from Rhys Hibbert and I can say that they are entirely consistent with Rhys's character. I have had the chance to meet him on several occasions. I've been very impressed, first of all, with his courage in going through what he endured, particularly as a very young child. I also met his parents and heard from them what an ordeal that was for their family. But I have been very impressed by the work that Rhys has been doing over the last few years in sparking and driving practical support for people who have a need for these kinds of transfusions and his work in encouraging people to register their stem cells on the Australian Bone Marrow Donor Registry. So congratulations, Rhys Hibbert, and thank you for the work you are doing.