CONSTITUENCY STATEMENTS
Ms WHITE (Lyons—Assistant Minister for Women, Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care and Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health) (10:35): I rise today to acknowledge and celebrate the volunteers of the Brighton community who were recognised at the 2026 Brighton Community Volunteer Awards, held during National Volunteers Week. Volunteers are the backbone of our community.
They give their time, their energy and their skills not because they have to but because they care about the people and places around them. I want to congratulate all of this year's award recipients and nominees for their contribution to the Brighton community. Under One Rainbow received the Community Initiative/Event of the Year Award for its annual Christmas family fun day in Gagebrook, which brings together more than 500 people for a wonderful day of food hampers, toys, family activities and entertainment.
Under One Rainbow was founded in 2013 by mother and son Sonya and Michael Williams— A division having been called in the House of Representatives— Sitting suspended from 10:36 to 10:48 Ms WHITE: Under One Rainbow was founded in 2013 by mother and son Sonya and Michael Williams, with a simple but powerful goal: to promote inclusion and ensure that people are not discriminated against because of their race, religion or sexuality.
It is a terrific example of what can happen when a community comes together to support one another. The Young Volunteer of the Year award was jointly presented to Jack Triffitt and Olivia Ims. Jack was recognised for his advocacy through the Brighton Youth Action Group, including work that helped achieve the reinstatement of a local bus service that was vital to help students to get to school.
Jack's work is a fantastic example of the power young people can have when they speak up about the issues that matter to them and their community. Olivia was recognised for her volunteer work with Brighton Bowls and Community Club and Meals on Wheels Tasmania, including fundraising through recycling initiatives to support vulnerable members of the community. The Community Volunteer of the Year was Rosie Engler, a member of Cafe Connections who has spent many years supporting community groups, events and initiatives across Brighton.
Her most prominent involvements include Cafe Connections, a local community group that focuses on social engagement and support, and the 1000 Hearts Project. This initiative involves hand-making pocket sized felt hearts to give to people experiencing difficult times. Rosie has made hundreds of felt hearts and teddies to help heal emotional scars for affected community members right across Tasmania.
I also want to acknowledge Moira Davidson, who spoke at the event and shared her own story about what inspires people to volunteer. Moira spoke about the influence of her father and the fact that she herself has now made an enormous contribution, including helping establish the Brighton Community Christmas Celebrations Committee, which has grown from a single simple community idea into an important annual event.
Her message was a powerful one: no single person should carry the responsibility for a community vision alone. Real change happens when people come together and share the same passion. That is exactly what we see in Brighton, and I congratulate all of the recipients.