Mr ANOULACK CHANTHIVONG (Macquarie Fields—Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading, Minister for Industry and Trade, Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology, Minister for Building, and Minister for Corrections) (18:28): Volunteers are the backbone of our local communities, whether they are the local service club, the sporting group, the SES, school P&Cs or even a local Bushcare group. Volunteers contribute in a variety of ways, giving their precious time to serve others. Last week was National Volunteer Week, an annual event recognising the contributions of volunteers from all walks of life and inviting others to do the same thing. When I look around my electorate of Macquarie Fields, I am reminded of the positives of volunteering. Members of local Lions and Rotary clubs exemplify service to others. This year Ingleburn Lions Club celebrates 64 years, and it is still going strong. The club works closely with local charities We Are Community and St Vincent de Paul to distribute much-needed non-perishable food to families doing it tough. In addition, the club partners with the Australian Timor-Leste Advancement Society to raise funds to support youth education and infrastructure projects. The collaboration saw the construction of a water tank at a local school in Timor-Leste, providing an important source of clean water.
Embodying the old adage that charity starts at home but does not end there, the Lions Club of Ingleburn distributed 20 cases of puddings to local disadvantaged and homeless people in the lead-up to Christmas last year. In July the club will grill sausages and onions at the annual local NAIDOC Week celebrations. Those selfless acts of giving are synonymous with volunteers everywhere. The Rotary Club of Ingleburn plays a significant role in the local community through a variety of programs, including its Hidden Homeless project, visits to Minto Gardens to provide valuable connections for the elderly, and its highly successful Gifts of Hope project that donates gifts to children who would otherwise go without at Christmas.
A key focus of the Rotary Club of Ingleburn is its New Generations partnerships with local high schools to foster volunteerism and leadership opportunities among young people. The Interact club at Hurlstone Agricultural High School in Glenfield has been running for more than 35 years, a longstanding commitment by both the Rotary Club of Ingleburn and the school. That is a remarkable milestone and I commend all involved. Open to any interested students, the Interact club hosts fundraisers throughout the year, such as the World's Greatest Shave and Cancer Council's Biggest Morning Tea, among many others. Barry Woolfe, a long-time Ingleburn Rotarian and a dear friend, oversees the New Generations program and regularly visits Hurlstone Agricultural High School to meet with the Interact members, discuss upcoming projects and provide mentoring to those wonderful students.
Intergenerational connections and knowledge sharing is beneficial for all involved. Around 19 Interact members helped on the barbecue at the annual Ingleburn Alive festival in March—a record number, with interest growing each year. An Interact club has also been active at Sarah Redfern High School in Minto for a number of years. The Rotary Youth Program of Enrichment, or RYPEN, gives young people aged 14 to 16 the opportunity to attend a residential camp to develop valuable life skills, self-image and leadership potential. Creating a pathway for the next generation is the Rotary youth arm, Rotaract, for young people aged 18 to 30. Rotaract is one of the fastest growing programs of Rotary service.
According to The Centre for Volunteering, nearly 70 per cent of New South Wales residents aged 15 or over volunteer annually, contributing over 1.3 billion hours of time to their local communities. Every dollar invested in volunteering returns around $5.50 to our economy. The benefits of volunteering are many: a greater sense of purpose and belonging, fostering connections, building valuable skills and friendships, strengthening community ties and social cohesion, improved wellbeing and helping others in times of crisis or disaster. There are thousands of volunteers in the Macquarie Fields electorate who stand as pillars of the local community, embodying the kindness and generosity of our community—and no doubt every community across the State and country.
Through my visits to the Macquarie Fields Men's Shed, Macquarie Fields Salvation Army, Myrtle Cottage in Ingleburn, ADRA Macquarie Fields, local sporting organisations and local schools, I have met with volunteers throughout my electorate. Volunteering is a truly noble endeavour that contributes to the fabric, welfare and wellbeing of our society. I thank each and every volunteer in my electorate, and those around the State and nation, for the great work they do to make our community a better place. Many volunteers do not give their time for accolades or public recognition. Rather, they serve with humility and a shared sense of purpose, helping to create stronger communities as they know best. Together in action, they serve the common good, and our country and its communities are all the better for it.
