TELECROSS

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA (15:07): My question is to the Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion. Will the minister update the council on the celebrations for the 40^th anniversary of the Telecross service?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers) (15:07): I would be delighted to, and I thank the honourable member for the question. As he knows, Telecross is a very important service for many elderly members of our community and it has been providing an important service to the community for 40 years.

Telecross provides a phone call from a volunteer to registered clients every day to check in on their health and wellbeing. Most of us rely on and look forward to regular contact with our family, friends and neighbours, but for many people this is just not their experience of life. In some cases their health and life circumstances may prevent them from engaging with the wider community in this way. Thanks to Telecross, however, there is an option for these people to remain connected with other people. Those who access the service report feeling a sense of security and peace of mind knowing that someone is thinking of them and that someone phones them every day to have a friendly chat.

On 7 June, I attended the 40^th anniversary of providing this service at Red Cross House. It was a great turnout. Many people joined in the celebrations, including the Hon. Mark Butler, the federal member for Port Adelaide and federal Minister for Social Inclusion; Mr Michael Raper, Director of Services and International Operations at Red Cross; and Ms Adrienne Smith, Regional General Manager of the Commonwealth Bank. All are keen supporters of Telecross.

I mentioned in my comments at the event the Weatherill government's commitment to Telecross into the future. We provide over $800,000 in funding to this program, but it must be said that participants were far more eager to hear from Ms Maggie Beer, a South Australian luminary, who also doubles as the Australian Red Cross Ambassador and whose daughter catered for the affair, which elicited much more attention than my speech. But who could compete with that family and their culinary skills?

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: I'm not underestimating them at all. The Commonwealth Bank of Australia, however, attempted to by announcing a $250,000 pledge, as well as a commitment to provide 100 corporate volunteers to Telecross. I think that is a fantastic outcome and the Commonwealth Bank should be congratulated for that. Telecross is a vital service that has served South Australia well for 40 years. On behalf of the South Australian government we wish them all the best for the next 40 years.