Thursday, 19 March 2026

 Danny PEARSON (Essendon – Minister for Economic Growth and Jobs, Minister for Finance, Minister for Government Services) (09:56): I rise to give my heartfelt thanks to Lesley McCarthy for her tireless work at the Rotary Club of Flemington, Kensington. Whenever there is a local event, you can be sure that Lesley will be there, working tirelessly at the rotary barbecue, raising vital funds for this club. Lesley is just one of those people that makes things happen. She is a natural-born leader and a powerful mentor for those who seek a leadership role in the club. She has been wonderful in terms of nurturing new people coming through and guiding them through that process. Lesley is just one of those people who always, always brings out the very best in people, and she makes a profound difference, not just in our community but at a global level. Lesley has played a vital role in delivering vitally needed medical equipment into countries like Nepal and Sri Lanka. Equipment that would normally just go to landfill is being repurposed to be able to provide that critical support for these communities. Lesley is just the best of us, and I am just so incredibly grateful and indeed thankful for how she has made our community a better place.