Tuesday, 2 December 2025

 Bridget VALLENCE (Evelyn) (13:46): Christmas is a joyous time of year, and to everyone across my electorate, my local community, I wish you a merry and safe Christmas. But Christmas can be a challenging time for people, especially as cost-of-living pressures are biting harder this year. I want to give a shout-out to the tremendous work of some of our local groups that focus their efforts on those who are doing it tough, determined to ensure that everyone feels valued and can enjoy some Christmas cheer at this time of year.

Rotary Club of Lilydale is again running the Christmas wishing tree gift appeal, together with Anchor Community Care and Lilydale police. Our thanks in particular to Anne and Gerry van Horick and Simon Tirchett and Lilydale Rotarians for this incredible initiative. Gifts, particularly for teenage children, can be dropped off unwrapped to many local shops, including my electorate office in Main Street, Lilydale, for children in foster care and kinship care and local struggling families to ensure that they receive a gift at this time of year.

Holy Fools, led by Neal Taylor, are on a mission to create 200 Christmas hampers filled with non-perishables and festive treats to bring hope, dignity and joy to individuals and families doing it tough this season. Thanks to Holy Fools volunteers for putting together these hampers from donated items, which can be dropped off to Felix House in Hutchinson Street, Lilydale.

Rotary Club of Wandin is again putting on its wonderful Christmas car and bike show, raising vital funds for vulnerable kids needing care at Royal Children’s Hospital. Well done to Peter Johnson, Gavan McIntyre, Brian Hodgson, Pat Cullen in past years and Wandin Rotarians for this amazing initiative.