Tuesday, 15 August 2023

 Kathleen MATTHEWS-WARD (Broadmeadows) (13:19): This morning Meadows Primary is farewelling the incredible Maureen Leahy. I first met Maureen as a school mum dropping off my kids at the after-school music program at the Meadows. She always made everyone feel so welcome and special. As a candidate and later member of Parliament I came to learn about the wonderful work she does in our community and the incredible legacy she leaves as the very first community hub leader.

Over a decade ago Maureen saw the need to start a playgroup to assist children from marginalised backgrounds and to refer parents to services. She understood what the community needed and got to work. Based on her model, Community Hubs Australia was born, and there are now 100 hubs around the country. These hubs are incredible resources and respond exactly to the needs of local families and communities. They make people feel welcome and heard and give people a place to belong and learn, especially those who are navigating life in a new country. We will never know exactly how many lives Maureen has made better by her work, her warmth and her wonderful self, but it would be thousands upon thousands. On behalf of the people of Broadmeadows, I thank her for the life of service, her vision, her sense of social justice, her can-do attitude, her determination, her leadership and collaboration and all that she has taught us, always with such humour, humility and grace. Maureen has changed the world for the better, and we are so grateful for her contribution and her life of service to others.