Thursday, 29 August 2024

 Mary-Anne THOMAS (Macedon – Leader of the House, Minister for Health, Minister for Health Infrastructure, Minister for Ambulance Services) (10:10): I rise today to honour two remarkable individuals in the Macedon electorate.

Grace Larson, a paediatric critical care nurse with over 17 years of experience, was recently named the 2024 Victorian state winner and national runner-up in the AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award. Grace, along with her sister Skye, founded the Sisterhood Project to address the health disadvantages faced by kids in rural Australia. The Sisterhood Project delivers life-saving skills such as infant and child first aid and CPR and education on preventable illnesses to parents and caregivers right across rural Australia. Their mission is simple but profound: to change the health outcomes for bush kids, reducing the need for rural children to seek specialised services in urban areas. Congratulations, Grace.

Gisborne’s own Charlie Jackman is a 17-year-old proudly autistic artist who co-founded his art microenterprise Charlie by Art. A finalist in the Victorian youth achiever awards ethical business category and Victorian winner of the people’s choice award, Charlie was presented with his award in June by our very own member for Albert Park. He uses his platform to raise awareness and promote inclusion for neurodiverse and disability communities. Charlie is an inspiration to so many people, balancing his successful business with his studies, his VET course and working as a kitchen hand.

Grace and Charlie are shining examples of the passion, dedication and resilience that define the community that I am so proud to represent. I commend them for their contributions.