ADJOURNMENT

Ms McBAIN (Eden-Monaro—Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories and Minister for Emergency Management) (13:12): I rise today to recognise and celebrate the extraordinary contribution of volunteers across the mighty Eden-Monaro. This year's Southern Inland Volunteer of the Year Awards were held earlier this week, and, as always, they showcase the very best of our region.

From the Snowy Mountains to Queanbeyan and from Cooma to Goulburn, volunteers are among the people who make our communities stronger, often with little fanfare and on shoestring budgets. So much of what we love about living in regional Australia is held up by the work of volunteers. They are the lifeblood of our sporting clubs, our ag shows, our charities, our community groups, our museums, our historical societies and our emergency services.

They are often the reason that local events can be held, community facilities can be maintained and vulnerable people can access support when they need it. Every day, volunteers step forward not because they have to, but because they deeply care about the communities they call home. This is why the New South Wales Volunteer of the Year Awards are so incredibly important.

They provide an opportunity to acknowledge the extraordinary people who contribute—often behind the scenes and without expectation of recognition. I'd like to congratulate Jacki Waugh, who was named 2026 southern inland volunteer of the year and adult volunteer of the year. Through her work with the Goulburn Show Society, Jacki has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to her community.

Her leadership, dedication and countless hours of service have strengthened one of the region's most important community institutions. If organising the Goulburn show wasn't enough, Jacki also volunteers with the Goulburn Lilac City Festival, the Towrang Rural Fire Brigade, the Goulburn Pony Club, Mulwaree Arts and the Goulburn Rodeo committee. Congratulations and thank you so much, Jacki.

I also want to congratulate Steven Pow, who was recognised as Senior Volunteer of the Year. Steven's outstanding contribution through the New South Wales Rural Fire Service Ridgeway brigade and BlazeAid has made a lasting impact on our community in the aftermath of the Black Summer bushfires. As a BlazeAid volunteer, Steven worked alongside Victorian farmers to rebuild kilometres of damaged fencing.

He served with the RFS for over 50 years and is currently the Ridgeway brigade's deputy captain and treasurer. I also want to acknowledge Andrew Heaney, who was recognised as Emergency Volunteer of the Year. Andrew has been an RFS volunteer for more than 30 years across the Queanbeyan and Ridgeway brigades.

His contribution to major incidents in our region spans decades, from leading and supporting RFS brigades in the 1997 Thredbo disaster all the way through to the New South Wales floods in 2022-23. On behalf of our community, I want to thank Andrew for his commitment and his courage. Congratulations also to We Love Goulburn Gardening Group, who were recognised as Volunteer Team of the Year.

For more than 20 years they have maintained Goulburn's parks and public spaces to ensure the region retains its reputation as a beautiful regional town. Their work demonstrates how volunteering can bring people together, build pride of place and strengthen community connections. I also want to take the opportunity to acknowledge the thousands of volunteers across Eden-Monaro who dedicate their time to improving the lives of others, and I look forward to the South Coast Volunteer Awards coming up next month.

As the federal member for Eden-Monaro, I have the privilege of meeting volunteers in every corner of our electorate. I meet with surf lifesavers on our coasts, SES volunteers in our towns, RFS members preparing for summer, Landcare volunteers restoring local environments, committee members who are keeping local sporting clubs running and community groups working every day to support other people.

Time and time again I am absolutely inspired by their commitment, and, quite simply, our communities would not be the same without them. So to every volunteer, whether your contribution is large or small, whether it's visible or it's behind the scenes: thank you so much. Our communities are stronger because of you, and that's what makes regional Australia great.