CONSTITUENCY STATEMENTS
Ms URQUHART (Braddon) (09:33): Last Friday, 16-year-old Matthew Dunn from Burnie, who is known as Matty, brought his brand new car along to my office for me to see. For many young Australians, getting a driver's licence and a first car is an exciting milestone. But for Matty it represents something much more.
It means independence. It means being able to travel to medical appointments, connect with his community and pursue a dream that many of us take for granted. His dream is driving to Hobart on his own.
Matty was diagnosed at just three months of age with Fanconi anaemia, a rare inherited disorder that brings significant health challenges and requires ongoing specialist care. Despite those challenges, Matty approaches life with determination, optimism and a remarkable spirit. Matty's grandmother Cheryl saved up $10,000 and then reached out to the Rotary Club of Burnie West, who hold ferret races each year to raise money for community support.
Together with Mazda Burnie, they have helped make the dream of a modified vehicle a reality. I was very pleased to sponsor a ferret in the races, although it was a slow one that didn't win. Thank you, Matty, for coming to see me.
Your resilience is inspiring. To everyone who has helped make this possible, thank you for demonstrating the very best of our north-west Tasmanian community. I look forward to hearing about Matty's first drive to Hobart when he gets off his L-plates.
I was pleased to attend the Burnie Nepalese community's Teej festival a couple of weeks ago. The event brought together more than 50 women from a wide range of cultural backgrounds to celebrate one of Nepal's most significant cultural festivals. It was wonderful to see so many community members gathered to celebrate culture, family and community.
One of the highlights of the evening was the beautiful traditional dress worn by attendees. The vibrant colours and rich cultural traditions on display were a powerful reflection of Nepalese heritage and added to the warmth and joy of the celebration. The festival showcased the multicultural strength of our north-west Tasmania and demonstrated the important role that cultural celebrations play in bringing people together, fostering understanding and also building an inclusive community.
The RSL was packed, and I congratulate the Burnie Nepalese community on hosting such a successful event and thank them for the significant contribution that they make to our region. They made this during a very difficult time, after the tragedies that happened in Nepal. Their culture, their traditions and their community spirit continue to enrich our community and help make north-west Tasmania a welcoming place for all.