Tuesday, 10 September 2019

 Ms BATH (Eastern Victoria) (13:41): I rise today to warmly congratulate the members and friends of the West Gippsland Vehicle Restorers Club (WGVRC). This is a small club with a very big heart, for over the weekend they held a car rally and fundraiser lunch and auction and they raised almost $4500. Special congratulations to Donna and Ben Nieuwenhuys, Katie and Gareth Foster, the inimitable Gerry Marvin and his lovely wife, Sheryl, and Joe and Nola Baldachino, who did a tremendous job organising the event. Also, thank you to Ben for inviting me to be his navigator as we traversed the wonderful hills of Jindavick, Neerim South and Bona Vista.

But the key driver was who it was going to. The funds were going to Lifeline Gippsland, and we had Lisa and Alicia come in and give us a talk around the wonderful work Lifeline Gippsland does and how, importantly, every day they intervene in crisis management and support people in great need. On this day, which happens to be World Suicide Prevention Day, we thank Lifeline Gippsland, their counsellors and all the volunteers at their wonderful seven op shops for doing such an amazing job to support people who need it most. Congratulations to the WGVRC for their great work.