Page 1032 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 25 February 2009

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I guess they are things that women need to look out for and, if they do, it is a simple matter of going to the doctor. If in doubt, go and see your local GP.

Organ donor awareness

MS GALLAGHER (Molonglo—Treasurer, Minister for Health, Minister for Community Services and Minister for Women) (5.20): I cannot let the opportunity go by either in Organ Donation Awareness Week or the day of the ORGANised walk here in the ACT to acknowledge the efforts of Ms Anne Cahill Lambert not only in organising that walk but as chair of Gift of Life, ACT. In the last 18 months, she has certainly taken the helm of that organisation and moved forward very swiftly and put around her some very strong Canberra advocates who are working to support organ donation in the territory.

As a result of her advocacy, she has been appointed by the Prime Minister to the advisory council to the new organ donation authority. I think she is being appointed as a consumer advocate for organ and tissue donation and health-related issues. She is sitting on that. Sam Chisholm is the chair of that. It is approximately a 12-member advisory council, with some very well known Australians on it. I think her efforts, her advocacy and her genuine desire to improve organ donation, not out of self-interest but out of a genuine interest to make sure that the lives of many people who are awaiting organ donation opportunities are improved, are the reasons for her appointment. I think it is a very prestigious appointment.

I think many of us know Ms Cahill Lambert and acknowledge her very strong advocacy in keeping us all honest at all times. I would like to acknowledge her efforts today. I think the appointment by the Prime Minister and the Minister for Health and Ageing is a very significant achievement for a Canberra woman and a consumer advocate for health services. I would like to acknowledge her efforts and congratulate her on such a prestigious appointment.

Lions Club

MR COE (Ginninderra) (5.22): Over the past couple of weeks I have had the pleasure of assisting the Canberra Ginninderra Lions Club on their recruitment drive for new members. I spent some time at Kippax shops promoting the club and recently had the pleasure of speaking at the new members evening at the West Belconnen Leagues Club. I have been a member of Lions for several years and have very much enjoyed my time with the organisation. So much of the good work in our community is done by volunteer organisations like Lions. Without this selfless commitment to volunteer service, our communities would be worse off. The simple but effective motto of Lions says it all: “We serve.”

Lions can raise money and serve their local community in many other ways. The majority of money raised by the Lions Club is reinvested in their local community. Whether it is tree planting, fundraising barbecues, respite care, running volunteer workshops, leading programs or maintaining community infrastructure like parks, Lions indeed do serve.


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