Wednesday, 28 August 2024

 Michaela SETTLE (Eureka) (10:02): I attended a really beautiful event last week in my electorate, the 110th anniversary of the Ballan Red Cross. Australia’s Red Cross is a volunteer-based organisation that exists to reduce human suffering. The Ballan Red Cross is the second oldest Red Cross in Victoria, formed only one week after the Melbourne branch in 1914. The celebration was a lunch at the mechanics institute in Ballan, and it was in that very same room that the Ballan Red Cross was formed 110 years ago. The great-great-granddaughters of one of the founding members were in attendance. The branch historian gave a wonderful insight into the volunteers in Ballan and all that they have achieved. The room was full to the brim with people paying their respects. There were more than 100 ‍people at the event, and they raised nearly $5000 on the day for the Red Cross. It was a truly wonderful event, and I would like to give a big shout-out to Anne Eskdale, the branch chair, for bringing it all together, though she is always quick to point out that a wonderful group of volunteers gave their time and effort. Lunch was all handmade by the local women of the Red Cross. It was an honour to meet the Victorian state director, Nichola Krey. Thank you to all in the Red Cross.