Thursday, 8 February 2024

 David HODGETT (Croydon) (09:40): I rise today to congratulate Randall Bourchier, who received the Ian De La Rue award for community leadership at the recent Yarra Ranges council community awards held on Australia Day. For more than 35 years Randall has made significant contributions, giving back to the community in countless ways. He inspires others to be involved in community events and offers a wealth of knowledge, experience and enthusiasm in all that he does. As a chaplain and emergency chaplain for the community, Randall has offered endless support over this time. He also regularly gives his time and skills as a master of ceremonies across many community events. His passion and selflessness make him an excellent recipient of this award. A special thanks also to Randall, who even taught me to play piano, much to the delight of my family.

I also wanted to congratulate Satria Arbai, who was awarded Young Citizen of the Year at Maroondah City Council’s Australia Day awards. Satria is a young adult living with a disability who is a passionate advocate for disability rights and inclusion. Satria runs workshops and training sessions where his lived experience shines the light on some of the challenges faced and how to best interact with those living with a disability. Congratulations, Satria, on the wonderful work you are doing and will continue to do.