Page 1469 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 9 May 2017
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Gungahlin Lions Club, the Gungahlin and Hall brigades of the ACT Rural Fire Service and the Gungahlin unit of the ACT SES.
There are countless sporting and recreational clubs, health and personal development organisations, environment groups and charity branches helping those less fortunate. There are organisations such as St Vincent de Paul and the Salvation Army. There is no shortage of organisations that are punching above their weight.
I would like to encourage Canberrans to consider volunteering for a cause to help others in our community. If you have not made the step towards volunteering before, I am sure there are many that would encourage you to do so. It is, of course, a wonderful and rewarding experience. It is important to acknowledge the important contribution that volunteers make and that is why the Canberra Liberals are very proud to put forward this matter of public importance today.
MS CODY (Murrumbidgee) (3.47): I truly would like to thank Mr Coe for bringing this matter of public importance forward. I could not agree with him more, which is surprising, I am sure, on many fronts.
Mr Coe: Battle stations.
MS CODY: I know; look out. Volunteers make an amazing contribution to our community. It is wonderful that Mr Coe has risen today and thanked all of the volunteers. I heard him say Ms Lawder will also be referencing the volunteer awards last night. I believe Ms Cheyne is also going to talk a little bit about that, so I have decided not to. I would like to talk about some of the volunteering that happens in our community. We could not manage all that we do without their help.
As we know, volunteers perform a vital role in Canberra. I know myself; I volunteer on a regular basis. However, volunteers can only do the vital work they do knowing they have secure employment. The matter of secure employment is often discussed on our side of the chamber. It is important that people know that when volunteering they do so without jeopardising that employment.
The direct effects of insecure work are well known. The effects on the broader community also need to be addressed. Secure work with stable hours does not just provide for the individual and their family; it also underpins our society by allowing people to volunteer on a regular basis. People with a stable income and predictable work patterns are able to volunteer more readily. They are able to coach their kids’ footy or netball teams—from the Woden Blues Football Club to Easts and Royals rugby, right through to the Bullants netball team.
Without secure employment we would see fewer volunteers out there every day, working and helping to make sure that their children, their friends and their family are able to participate in these local sporting activities. They also participate, as Mr Coe said, in organisations like Rotary or the Lions Club. I was lucky enough to attend the Kambah Lions presentation of the Frank Brown Memorial Award for Community Service late last year or earlier this year. It was an honour to stand there and watch
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