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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-06-27 Daily Xml
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RED NOSE DAY

The Hon. J.S. LEE (15:39): Please allow me the indulgence of holding up a red nose and a soft toy just for a moment. This is a time to be silly, even though it is not quite Christmas time for Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. However, it is time to be silly for a serious cause, and today I rise to speak about Red Nose Day. On Monday night, 25 June, it was a great honour to attend the reception hosted by His Excellency Rear Admiral Kevin Scarce, Governor of South Australia, to celebrate 25 years of Red Nose Day.

Some of you may have noticed that there is a big red nose on the gate of Government House. It goes to show that His Excellency is going out of his way to raise awareness for Red Nose Day. I wish to thank His Excellency the Governor and Mrs Scarce for their ongoing commitment and generosity in supporting many charitable organisations in South Australia.

It was heartwarming to meet so many parents, volunteers and ambassadors for Red Nose Day at Government House. I would like to congratulate the board members, management, staff and volunteers for the wonderful and important work they do at the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Association of South Australia, now trading as SIDS and Kids South Australia.

SIDS was formed by a group of parents in October 1977. Their main aim was to raise funds for research and to educate the community about the terrible Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Research by SIDS shows that over nine children under four years of age die suddenly and unexpectedly every day in Australia, and up to 60 people are affected by the death of one child.

Losing children from sudden death is an awful and traumatic experience for parents and family members. For this reason, the bereavement support services offered by SIDS are vital for all Australian families. Each year, SIDS and Kids handles thousands of queries through a bereavement support line. SIDS and Kids programs are offered free of charge to all family members and friends who need support and are available 24 hours a day through counselling sessions, after-hours counselling, home visits and a range of support groups and events.

Since 1990, education initiatives such as the SIDS and Kids Safe Sleeping Program have saved the lives of an estimated 7,500 Australian babies. In 1988, the Red Nose Day concept was adopted by SIDS across Australia. The first Red Nose Day was very successful, with around one million red noses sold, raising about $1.3 million. Organisers were thrilled with the success and decided to make Red Nose Day a national annual event.

The event has grown and continues to capture the imagination of the Australian public. With a 94 per cent recognition rate in Australia, the concept of putting on a red nose for a day can be silly, but it is for a very serious cause. The concept has expanded to include a range of products and involves celebrities, businesses, vehicles and buildings Australia wide.

I know that many politicians get involved in Red Nose Day to raise awareness as well. I remember appearing in a newspaper in 2010 with the Hon. Michelle Lensink and the member for Adelaide, Rachel Sanderson, looking incredibly attractive with our red noses. I also wish to pay tribute to Dr Susan Beal. It was a pleasure to meet and speak with her at the Government House reception. She is a remarkable human being. She has been investigating the circumstances surrounding Sudden Infant Death Syndrome for more than 20 years.

Dr Beal began working at the Adelaide Children's Hospital in the early 60s. In 1970 she was asked to investigate the incidence of SIDS. Between 1973 and 1990, she visited more than 500 families who had lost babies to cot death and, in 1986, she was able to show that the rate of death was highest among babies who slept facedown. She is credited with being the first person to argue publicly against babies sleeping on their stomachs. In the countries that have taken on her advice, including Australia, the United Kingdom and New Zealand, the incidence of SIDS has almost halved.

Due to her incredible work, Dr Susan Beal was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the Queen's Birthday Honours List in 1997, which was very well deserved. This year marks 25 years of Red Nose Day, and I encourage honourable members to put on a red nose—it might look silly, but it is an honourable thing to do—or purchase merchandise on Friday 29 June 2012 to support Red Nose Day. Go red nose!

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