NORTHERN VOLUNTEERING SA INC

Mrs VLAHOS (Taylor) (15:23): I would like to speak this afternoon about an event I attended last Friday just outside of my electorate at the Parafield Gardens Community Club, which the member for Port Adelaide was recently speaking about. The Northern Volunteering SA National Volunteers Week volunteer recognition awards and luncheon, which was held last Friday at the club, was a really excellent afternoon.

Around 130 people were in attendance and 23 organisations from the northern suburbs attended the event. This included two organisations whose volunteer programs Northern Volunteering's Peter Heyworth and Teresa had helped establish. Together we were entertained by a local group of youngsters who were indeed celebrating their fifth anniversary of settlement in Australia last Sunday, that is, the Bhutanese youth group, and what wonderful citizens they are and what futures they have in our country as young leaders.

I would like to place on the record some of the important people who should be recognised in the northern suburbs for the contribution that they make in this important 'Thanks a Million' National Volunteers Week. In our state alone there are about 900,000 volunteers who contribute to community activity. In fact, I think they are often the glue that makes our community work.

I would like to place on the record my appreciation to the Zonta Club of Gawler for their emergency kits for girls. These emergency kits for girls are provided to upper primary and secondary girls. They increase school attendance for girls who are economically disadvantaged and ensure the girls are able to actively engage in schooling, and provide health care and hygiene support. The feedback from the kids is that it has had a dramatic impact on their self-esteem and their participation in education. To the end of 2012, up to 100 students had benefited from this continued educational program, and I congratulate the women at the Zonta Club for their involvement.

I also commend the Grenville Community Connections Hub volunteers. Over the last 30 years we have thanked 140 volunteers at the Grenville club which has grown in popularity and is now operating 37 weekly programs, numerous events and special themed evenings, markets, forums and three other business units providing opportunities and support for people to live independently in the north.

The Gawler Community House is another great group of volunteers which provides adult courses. The Community Visitors Scheme is an amazing program and, in fact, one of the ladies there has been visiting people for a long time using public transport regardless of the weather, and she is an absolute rock. Friends After Hours from the City of Playford were a highly commended group and they demonstrate the genuine passion and dedication for helping people with intellectual disabilities. Not only do they drive vehicles, they assist participants in completing tasks and they also increase their self-confidence and self-esteem.

I will also place on record that certificates of appreciation were awarded to Fun on Fridays from the City of Salisbury; Justice of the Peace Service of the Salisbury city council; Community Kids at the Playford Village Baptist Care, which conducts monthly visits by children aged three and four from local child care to elderly residents in aged care facilities; the Friends of Playford Library for the wonderful work they do in raising money for the library, running book stalls, baking cakes, donating raffle prizes, and attending markets and festivals to publicise the library; and Willo's Men's Shed which is another Gawler initiative providing a local opportunity for men to engage in woodwork and metalwork projects throughout the local area.

There are a number of personal volunteers who need to be recognised, including the highly commended Dieter Fabig from the German-speaking Aged Services Association. Described as an exceptional person on the day, Dieter has for three years shown a great commitment to serving the client group who are senior members of the German-speaking community. He is always friendly, helpful and 100 per cent reliable. The board of management particularly value the work he has done. They describe him as the living backbone of German Voice, the only German radio program in SA, with the community enjoying a lively and entertaining program.

Carmelina Allcroft is the Administrative Volunteer of the GP Plus Health Care Centre at Elizabeth was also highly commended. A certificate was awarded to Jackie Tadman who is an admin services officer at Smith Family (North Team). Angela Busuttil has been involved in the 'Eyes Down Bingo' for the last 15 years and was recognised for volunteering at the bingo booths on a regular basis with United Way SA.

With all of these people in the northern suburbs, it shows the true depth and passion of volunteering in the north. In this wonderful week of volunteering, I would like to place on the record my thanks and I am sure that of all my parliamentary colleagues for the wonderful work they do for their communities wherever they are in South Australia.