Wednesday, 4 March 2026

 Colin BROOKS (Bundoora – Minister for Industry and Advanced Manufacturing, Minister for Creative Industries) (10:13): I rise today to acknowledge the incredible work of Bread Hub Victoria, a grassroots, volunteer-led organisation serving our community with compassion, dignity and heart. Bread Hub Victoria began just two years ago with Brendan Murphy and his mum Zippy, who are in the Parliament today, and his daughter Ava. What started with 40 bread rolls, a bit of butter and Vegemite at the Queen Victoria Market has grown into an extraordinary community movement. Today, Bread Hub Victoria operates across three sites, supporting more than 5000 people every week. With over 30 volunteers, the organisation operates seven days a week and even opens on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, ensuring that no-one is forgotten. Beyond food relief, Bread Hub Victoria delivers free basketball programs and fully funded swimming programs to ensure families can access lifesaving skills. They have also successfully advocated for the homelessness outreach services in Banyule and Whittlesea and helped to develop the winter shelter resource movement.

I particularly want to acknowledge the organisation’s outstanding volunteers, including Zippy, who I understand is known as the mother of the west, and Nabil Salem and Leora Creak, whose tireless work exemplifies the spirit of this organisation. As an example, for more than a year and a half, every Wednesday evening, rain, hail or shine, Leora and her son Anthony collect surplus bread from Bundoora Square and distribute it to an elderly couple in Greensborough, multiple disability homes and breakfast clubs at two local primary schools. On behalf of my community, I thank Brendan, Leora, Zippy and everyone at Bread Hub Victoria for their extraordinary service to our community.