CONSTITUENCY STATEMENTS
Ms BERRY (Whitlam) (16:53): I rise today to recognise Roma Dix, who, 40 years ago, co-founded the National Braille Music Camp to support blind and visually impaired musicians to read, write and compose music. In 1986, alongside her late husband, Ian Cooper, Roma established the camp in the Southern Highlands in my electorate of Whitlam. The goal was to support blind students who were being educated in mainstream schools who would otherwise miss out on having blind music teachers.
Music is incredibly important for the visually impaired. It helps people to experience the world, express themselves and engage with others. Hundreds of primary and secondary-age students from across Australia have attended the camp, hosted at Frensham College in Mittagong, to fully experience the joy of music.
The camp has also fostered a sense of belonging for the children and young people who participate, supporting lifelong friendships and increased confidence that students take with them into the future. Many of the camp's teachers are former campers, showing how meaningful this has been for those who have attended and the close-knit community that Roma has created.
Some have taken up a further career in music. I thank Roma for her tireless efforts supporting the blind and vision impaired in our community and across Australia and for spreading her love of music. I congratulate her on this 40th anniversary of the braille music initiative she has championed.
I rise today to recognise Brad Johns, an icon of the Illawarra Light Railway Museum and much-loved volunteer in my electorate of Whitlam. Bragg has been a member of the museum since it was founded 41 years ago, in 39 of which he has been Treasurer. The Illawarra Light Railway Museum is much loved by the local community, where people of all ages can enjoy rides on restored steam locomotives, and it is entirely staffed by volunteers.
Brad's passion for locomotives is infectious. Brad has taught me about a train called Wallaby, how his father used to operate the train during its time at Port Kembla from 1933 to 1962 and about the many hours of dedicated work that has gone into repainting the train to restore it. Brad has also taught me about Kiama, the locomotive built in Ohio in 1917 that worked on building the Cordeaux Dam and then moving sand from the Nepean River for the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
His greatest joy, however, is the smiles on kids faces when they see these historic trains come to life. That's what it's all about, he says. Volunteers like Brad are the lifeblood of our community.
On behalf of the electorate of Whitlam, I congratulate Brad Johns on his many decades of service to the Illawarra Light Railway Museum and I thank him for the important role he plays in preserving the Illawarra's industrial and rail history.