CONSTITUENCY STATEMENTS

Mr RICK WILSON (O'Connor) (16:18): I rise today to provide an update on the delivery of a sea container of much-needed mobility devices from my electorate of O'Connor to people living with disability in Fiji. The vision for the Mobility Devices for Fiji project began with my friend, and leader of the Albany Fijian community, Pastor Joseph Raikoti, who saw an opportunity to help improve the lives of people living with disabilities in Fiji.

Joseph's vision was simple: collect mobility equipment no longer needed here in Australia and give it a second life, bringing dignity, independence and opportunity to those who need it most in Fiji. I take this opportunity to acknowledge the Fiji Disabled Peoples Federation and partner organisations the Rotary Club of Albany City and the Rotary Club of Suva Peninsula Sunset.

I also thank the Rotary clubs of Esperance, Katanning and Manjimup for their financial support and the many volunteers on both sides of the Pacific who have worked tirelessly to collect, prepare, ship and distribute the equipment. I give a special shout-out to Geoff Griffiths and his family in Albany, who collected the equipment, and to Rhys and Tracy Ravenhill, who provided safe storage free of charge for the many wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, walking frames and other devices.

These aids are more than just pieces of equipment. For the grateful recipients, they represent independence, opportunity and inclusion. They also represent the care and compassion of the good people of O'Connor, who may never meet the recipients but who wanted to make a difference in their lives.

Projects such as this remind us that the strongest relationships between nations are often built not through governments but through communities, churches, service organisations and ordinary individuals achieving extraordinary outcomes. My recent trip to Suva was not simply to hand over the equipment; it was a colourful celebration of the friendship between Fiji and regional Western Australia, acknowledging what can be achieved when people unite around a common purpose.

I'm proud to have supported this initiative and was honoured to travel to Fiji with Pastor Joseph and meet with partner organisations and, more importantly, the recipients of these devices. I thank the Fiji Disabled Peoples Federation for hosting the vibrant and inclusive handover event, which was attended by the Deputy Prime Minister of Fiji, the Hon. Manoa Kamikamica.

In his address, Mr Kamikamica acknowledged the importance of these devices in improving the quality of life of Fijians living with disability. The President of the Fiji Disabled Peoples Federation, Mr Setareki Macanawai, added that these devices will foster greater inclusion and participation for an often overlooked subset of the population. I close with the hope that the recipients will soon enjoy better mobility, greater independence and new opportunities.