CONSTITUENCY STATEMENTS

Ms SPENDER (Wentworth) (16:08): Today I want to pay tribute to two incredible humans from Wentworth, people who have shown unwavering community spirit and courage. The first is Rabbi Jeffrey Kamins. Rabbi Kamins has been the senior rabbi at Emanuel Synagogue since 1999.

In that time, he has led the community through periods of both transformation and adversity. He's now stepping away from his active service to become the synagogue's inaugural Rabbi Emeritus, with his mantle taken up by the wonderful Rabbi Ninio. There is so much that I admire about Rabbi Kamins.

He's got great wit and charm, but he matches his good humour with a deep commitment to Jewish values of egalitarianism and inclusion. Someone who leads from the heart with open arms, Rabbi Kamins has been an advocate of First Nations and refugee rights. He has consistently spoken about protecting our natural environment and of building bridges between faiths, and he officiated Australia's first religious same-sex wedding.

Over the last few years, during which the Jewish community has endured so much pain, he has been a pillar of strength. To Rabbi Kamins directly, I say thank you. To have known you is one of the great privileges of my role over the last few years, and I genuinely feel I'm a better representative for my community because of your example.

I wish you nothing but peace and happiness in your next adventure. I also want to take a moment to pay tribute to Charlie Verco. Charlie is a volunteer lifeguard at North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club and was paddling from Bondi to Maroubra on the morning of Saturday 13 June when a shark attacked a woman, Leah Stewart, in the water off Coogee Beach.

Despite the clear and present danger, with the shark still in the water, Charlie stayed with Leah and helped her get to the safety of the shore, where she was able to receive urgent medical attention. I have no doubt that this was an utterly terrifying experience, but Charlie stayed calm and focused, doing what he could to help. The other thing that struck me about Charlie is how even now. in the aftermath, he is using his platform on social media to encourage people to donate blood to aid in more life-threatening situations like the one Leah was in.

All of this speaks to his bravery, his composure under extreme pressure and his humility. I don't think it would be an overstatement to say that Charlie is a hero, and I want to thank him for the courage and selflessness that he showed, which no doubt saved Leah's life. To Leah, I want to send my best wishes for your recovery and send those wishes to your family and friends, who must have been absolutely terrified by what you went through.

I hope you know that the entire eastern suburbs community is behind you and your family and your loved ones, each step of the way as you heal.