CONSTITUENCY STATEMENTS
Ms SITOU (Reid) (09:45): One of the things I love most about my electorate is our strong sense of community. What makes our area special is that so many people are willing to lend a hand to others. Every day, volunteers across my community quietly make a difference, not for recognition but simply because they care.
Today I want to recognise some of those extraordinary people and the organisations they support, the Salvation Army and the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul. At the Salvation Army Burwood Corps, more than 100 people access support each week under the leadership of Captain Rong Fu and Captain Dillon Wu, the corps provides emergency relief, food assistance, English classes, parenting programs, community meals and support for people experiencing hardship.
Central to this work are dedicated volunteers, including Judy Ju, Vicky Hong, Mary Jin, Nandini Dogra, Hans Moningka, Jessica Li, Indra Yanti, Shuyuan Qiu, Yuanhua Fan, Lily Lin and Junming Xu. These volunteers help families put food on the table, support older residents, welcome newcomers and ensure people know that they are not alone. Through their generosity and compassion, they are building a stronger and more connected community.
I want to recognise the remarkable work of the Burwood Vinnies Support Centre, led by coordinator Ladan Ghavamizadeh. Under Ladan's leadership, the centre has become a trusted source of support for people facing difficult circumstances, providing food, essential items, financial counselling and assistance with energy bills and homelessness. This work is powered by an extraordinary volunteer team: Fely, who continues serving the community at 82 years of age, Louise, Linda, Christina, Win, Janina, Serena, Rochelle, Nabila, Shreya, Sneha and Nicholas Chu, who chose to remain as a volunteer after completing his placement there.
What strikes me most about our local community organisations is their commitment to dignity. They understand that helping someone is about more than meeting their immediate need; it is about restoring hope and reminding people that they matter. A wonderful example is Vinnies's annual Christmas initiative, which allows parents and grandparents experiencing hardship to choose a gift for their loved one, giving them dignity at that special time of year.