Tuesday, 20 May 2025

National Volunteer Week

Kathleen MATTHEWS-WARD (Broadmeadows) (14:15): In volunteer week we say thank you to all those who contribute so much to our communities. Whether it is making sure kids can participate in sport, getting up in the middle of the night to help with fires or storms or rescue animals, collecting signatures to keep post offices open, working in op shops, providing respite or loving foster homes, helping in schools, planting trees or sitting with those who are sick and dying, the ways volunteers selflessly contribute to our community are endless and so very important. I am proud of today’s budget – Labor truly doing what matters. But a highlight for me is the doubling of funding for food relief. Recent grants have boosted funding to local programs at Glenroy Neighbourhood House, Dallas Neighbourhood House, Banksia Gardens, Nourishing Neighbours and the Halal Food Bank.

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I cannot express enough gratitude for the many volunteers who make sure people have the dignity of a meal on the table and the ability to feed their children. A shout-out to coordinators Bec, Leanne, Rana, Basir and Shafi. I occasionally join my husband Joe and our girls volunteering at the St Mark’s Hope Cafe in Fawkner, which provides a three-course meal every Thursday night for those doing it tough. A huge thanks to the women that come together to cook, including Irene and Marie; all the volunteers, including Christine, Luke, Sandra, the two Marias, Phil, Mary, Dylan, Anna, Virginia, Marie, Lauren, Anagi, Phil, Fraser, Gina, Stella, Michael, Ali, Hassan, Rob, Celeste, Marianne, John, Chantelle, Kelly, Chalise, Jacinta, Vivienne, Margaret, Merilyn and Rosemary; and of course Father Colin for his support.