Page 2164 - Week 07 - Thursday, 7 August 2014
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There will be a barbecue at the Bunnings stores in Fyshwick, Belconnen and Tuggeranong on August 9 to raise funds. There will also be the launch of the centenary International Humanitarian Law Magazine on 28 August. This is the launch of the specially commissioned centenary edition of the IHL magazine. Of course, there will be the annual Red Cross Centenary Ball on 25 October, which will be held at the Australian War Memorial.
I take this opportunity today to encourage Canberrans to get involved in the celebrations by attending one, or indeed all, of these events, or by sharing their Red Cross experiences by visiting the centenary.redcross.org.au website. I also encourage Canberrans to think about ways that they can get more involved with the Red Cross. One very simple way is by donating blood.
In conclusion, the Australian Red Cross centenary represents a major achievement. On behalf of the ACT community I congratulate Red Cross Australia on reaching such a significant milestone. I also acknowledge Wenda Donaldson, executive director of the Red Cross here in the ACT and south-eastern New South Wales, and her team of Red Cross members and volunteers whose everyday work makes such a positive difference to the lives of some of our region’s most vulnerable people.
I also thank all members of this place today for their support of this motion. I am delighted to have had the opportunity to help celebrate 100 years of humanitarian service by the Red Cross in Australia and thoroughly commend this motion to the Assembly.
MR HANSON (Molonglo—Leader of the Opposition) (10.43): I am very pleased to be able to add my voice to this motion and publicly acknowledge the extraordinary role the Red Cross in Australia has made both to the welfare of Australians in need and, in partnership with sister organisations in the Asia Pacific, to peoples in our region at times of grief and despair.
It is great to see representatives, including Mr Sam Wong, here today from the Red Cross. Madam Speaker, as many will know, the formation of the Red Cross in Australia was a humanitarian reaction from everyday Australians at a time when the world faced the daunting and horrific prospects of the First World War. At one of the times of great national despair, the very best in Australian spirit came forward. Lady Munro Ferguson, the wife of the then Governor-General, began the Australian Branch of the British Red Cross Society on 13 August 1914, nine days after the outbreak of World War I.
Red Cross in Australia in its earliest days was committed, and still is committed, to finding compassionate responses for those in greatest need, committed to finding ways to relieve suffering, committed to bringing families back together and committed to the welfare of all peoples everywhere. The Red Cross movement was born out of a desire to bring assistance without discrimination to the wounded on the battlefield and to work to prevent and alleviate human suffering wherever it may be found.
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