Thursday, 16 October 2025

 Melissa HORNE (Williamstown – Minister for Ports and Freight, Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Minister for Health Infrastructure) (09:54): Volunteers are the backbone of our local community in the Williamstown electorate, and last Friday I had the pleasure of celebrating many of them at a special volunteers appreciation event in Spotswood. We are incredibly lucky to have so many dedicated people who give countless hours of their time supporting local causes. They advance the rights of others or simply help their local club or community group to thrive.

After inviting nominations from local organisations, we received many incredible stories of service, commitment and care. Our volunteers come from a wide range of community groups, including the Hobsons Bay Men’s Shed; the Hobsons Bay Wetland Centre; the Williamstown Historical Society; the Freedom Sports Foundation; Thrive in 2025; ParKanDo; ParkinSong; Patch in the Park, Altona Community Garden; and the Zonta Club of Melbourne’s West. Their tireless work enriches the lives and strengthens inclusion across our community. We also celebrated volunteers from the Williamstown literary festival, the Williamstown Little Theatre and the Williamstown Community and Education Centre. Each plays a vital role in fostering local creativity, learning and connection. Our lifesaving and sporting youth clubs were exceptionally well represented, including the Altona and Williamstown lifesaving clubs, the 2nd Newport Scouts, the Pines Scout Camp, the Altona North Cricket Club, the Altona Roosters Rugby League Club, the Newport-Digman Cricket Club, the Newport Power Netball Club and the West Gate Basketball Association.