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House of Assembly - Fifty-Third Parliament, First Session (53-1)
2014-06-05 Daily Xml
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Harrington, Jimmy

Mr WINGARD (Mitchell) (15:15): I rise today to speak of a young man from the Reynella region by the name of Jimmy (James) Harrington, who has just got back from completing a walk around Australia. Jimmy started on the trek on 19 May 2013 and has covered 18,000 kilometres, raising money for Brainchild Foundation. He has raised, at latest count, just over $220,000, which is a stellar job. As I said, it has taken over 12 months for this feat to be achieved and he is just 21 years of age. The foundation that he was raising money for, as I mentioned, was the Brainchild Foundation, based in Queensland and established in 2010. Their aim is to help children affected by brain and spinal cord tumours, and their families.

Jimmy was inspired by a young girl named Emily Crook, who battled cancer three times. He met her back in 2010 while he was working in a café and she was battling cancer for the second time. She inspired Jimmy, as he had always seen a smile on her face no matter what condition she was in. Emily battled cancer for the second round and then, unfortunately, succumbed to a third cancer battle, this time brain cancer. She lost her life back in August 2011.

Whilst Jimmy actually never spoke to this girl, the smile on her face and the inspiration she gave him made him decide, as a very young man, to do something for those less fortunate, and he chose this foundation in memory of Emily Crook. He wanted to help out and that was when he started his walk, as I said, back on 19 May 2013. It was a great achievement and Jimmy should be well and truly recognised. Amongst other things, in 2012, there was a World's Greatest Shave where they raised more money. He is also a Camp Quality volunteer and he has been involved in numerous other foundations.

The great support that Jimmy received from the Reynella community must be noted here as well. Jimmy went to the Reynella Primary School. I was there on the weekend when Jimmy returned from his great walk and the number of community people who came out to support him was overwhelming. He has had constant support, as I said, from the primary school and people involved. Only recently, they held a casual day and raised $2,000. Normally, they would raise about $600 but, talking of Jimmy's achievements and the local community being aware of Jimmy's achievements, they dug deep and raised $2,000, which is absolutely outstanding. I mentioned his welcome home event and it was exceptional. They had live music, kids' activities, Star Wars characters, cake stalls and sausage sizzles raising more money, which was outstanding.

I spoke to Jimmy not long after he returned and he told a really great story about when he was setting off and trekking across the Nullarbor. Word got to Jimmy that Shane Crawford was coming up behind him, who was doing one of his great charity rides across the Nullarbor, going to Perth on this occasion. He also passed Samuel Johnson, the actor, who was unicycling around Australia and did a marvellous job raising funds. In fact, Samuel Johnson was so helpful that he came and emceed the welcome home for Jimmy, which he must be commended for as well. It was marvellous to have someone of such high profile there supporting Jimmy.

I mentioned the primary school that was supportive but, of course, you cannot do this as a young man without great support from your father, and Jimmy's mother, Debbie, and father, Chris, were very heavily involved. In fact, Chris is worthy of mention in a grieve of his own because he does so much work for the Reynella Scouts and he really is an outstanding citizen, as are his family. Jimmy has six other siblings—seven children in the family of Debbie and Chris, and they work very hard for all of their children. One of the brothers, Ryan, tagged along with Jimmy the whole way and I heard countless stories of nights where he just slept in the back of the van and supported his brother right the way around the journey. Emily's grandfather, Geoff, also was involved early on walking with Jimmy to get things going.

I think it is a marvellous achievement for such a young man to do such a great thing at a relatively young age, and to be so aware of helping others in the community. Here is a guy who is working to help the community and do everything he can, not taking but giving. I think on this occasion it is great to commend Jimmy and really acknowledge the outstanding work that he has done. While I have a little bit more time, it would be remiss of me not to mention the football. The people on the other side might laugh, but after last night—

Members interjecting:

Mr WINGARD: I could not find any calisthenics people who were inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame, I do apologise, Deputy Speaker, but I will find some that get into the Australian hall of fame. I must acknowledge the great effort of Andrew McLeod and also Warren Tredrea, who were honoured last night in the Australian Football Hall of Fame; it is an outstanding achievement. Andrew McLeod of course is a three-time Best and Fairest winner and a two-time Norm Smith Medallist in the premiership years of the Adelaide Crows in 1997 and 1998.

Andrew McLeod played 340 games, five times All-Australian, and was captain of the All-Australian team in 2007. He is also a member of the Indigenous Team of the Century, and is a great Indigenous member of the community, doing wonderful things there. Warren Tredrea is a four-time Best and Fairest winner, eight-time leading goal kicker, premiership player and four-time All-Australian; again, another great South Australian. I congratulate them both immensely.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Your time has expired. I do look forward to the day when you come in to report the Australian Women's Cricket Team's accolades, because there are plenty of them.

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