STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Mr SMALL (Forrest—Opposition Whip) (16:06): I got a very warm welcome on a very cold morning when I visited the Brunswick community men's shed back in April. Operating an organisation like this most days of the week is no small task for a regional community group, but they know the important impact that they're having on the community that gives people of all ages the opportunity to participate in a range of activities.

The Brunswick community men's shed is growing, quite literally, and, make no mistake, it is great to see. The grant they received from Lotterywest will go directly towards the essential upgrades to and the extending of their shed that are underway as we speak. They have a great deal of gratitude after receiving a grant from the Department of Home Affairs to conduct cybersafety awareness.

In fact, they were so appreciative that they crafted a handmade wooden plaque of appreciation that I was very pleased to present to the men's shed advocate on the other side of the chamber, the member for Hunter, and I think the locals were so impressed to see that we could have a great deal of bipartisanship when it came to recognising these sorts of achievements in our local communities.

So to Kathryn, who runs the show, and all of the members at the Brunswick community men's shed, because they are proudly open to both men and women: thank you for welcoming me into your shed, and I look forward to coming back in just a few weeks to see these upgrades in all their glory.