Daniela DE MARTINO (Monbulk) (16:48): We have so much heart and the strongest community spirit in the hills, and just this weekend I joined the Hills MND Big Freeze Walk to Paradise, where I joined my beautiful friend the member for Pakenham. There was a river of blue beanies snaking its way along the path from Emerald to the Paradise Valley Hotel, and hundreds turned out to raise funds for this most worthy of causes. In its third year running, this event has quickly become a hills institution, organised by the family of local Matt Strickland, who was diagnosed with MND in 2015. The funds raised have exceeded all expectations. By midday on Sunday they had raised over $200,000 over the past three years alone. Brave locals lined up once again to feel the impact of icy cold water, and this year Matt’s wife Sarah was amongst them. To the Stricklands, the Paradise Valley Hotel team, all who helped to organise and fundraise for this event and everyone who supported it, a huge thank you to you all.