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Ms KENEALLY (Heffron) [4.29 p.m.]: I pay tribute to a dedicated group in my community that is working at grassroots level to support the challenge that this Government is meeting head on: fighting cancer. I congratulate the Eastlakes Women's Bowling Club on its tremendous efforts to raise money for the New South Wales Cancer Council. This year marks the third year in which the Eastlakes Women's Bowling Club has hosted Australia's Biggest Morning Tea in aid of cancer research. This year's event was held on Wednesday 21 May at the bowling club on Florence Avenue. I was honoured that the club invited me to attend the event and I was pleased to do so.
The club's morning tea was a resounding success, raising more than $2,700 for cancer research. More than 200 members of the local community attended, including the club's patron, long-time member and my neighbour Mrs Dulcie Coyne, who has been a resident of Eastlakes for more than 65 years. Mr Brad Timms, the co-ordinator of the Australia's Biggest Morning Tea program, also attended. Mr Timms spoke to the people of Eastlakes about the outstanding research that is being conducted as a result of fundraising efforts like those of the bowling club.
I believe it is a wonderful tribute to the Eastlakes community that the bowling club should sponsor such a successful event in order to raise awareness and funds for urgently needed research into such a devastating disease. I am a resident of Eastlakes and I have spoken before in Parliament about what a friendly and wonderful community it is. The efforts of the women's bowling club testify to that. As we know, the Premier has directed that a Cancer Research Institute be established in New South Wales to fight the battle against this disease. The Cancer Council, which co-ordinates the Australia's Biggest Morning Tea program, has welcomed this initiative. The chief executive officer of the Cancer Council, Dr Andrew Penman, said yesterday that the cancer institute Act will allow the Cancer Council to "focus more on what we do best, which is to deliver help at the community level".
I am confident that with the help of community organisations such as the Eastlakes Women's Bowling Club the Cancer Council will continue to deliver much-needed and much-appreciated community assistance. I congratulate Mrs Coupland, the president of the bowling club; Mrs Margaret Power, the club's secretary; and Mrs Dearling, the club's treasurer. I also congratulate all the club's members, who made beautiful jams, pickles and cakes for sale and contributed gorgeous handmade and donated items for a fancy goods stall. In addition, there were amazing cakes and treats for the morning tea itself, including the best cheesecake I have ever tasted! Organisations such as the Eastlakes Women's Bowling Club are the heart and soul of our local community. I believe this Government's efforts to tackle cancer head on are bolstered immeasurably by the work being done in our local communities. I thank the Eastlakes Women's Bowling Club for its work. Through its efforts it has both benefited our local community and strengthened our resolve in New South Wales to fight cancer and build better lives for cancer patients.
Miss BURTON (Kogarah—Parliamentary Secretary) [4.35 p.m.]: I thank the honourable member for Heffron for her comments. During the time that I have known the honourable member she has worked hard for her local community. Her constituents are lucky to have her and I am sure that she will continue to represent them well in this place. I extend the Parliament's congratulations to the Eastlakes Women's Bowling Club. Many of us have lost a family member or friend to cancer. I know from personal experience that it is a devastating disease, and we must do everything possible to find a cure. The Government is doing all that it can—we debated this morning the Cancer Institute (New South Wales) Bill—to find a cure and to provide better care for cancer patients. Community support is also important, and in that context I thank the Eastlakes Women's Bowling Club for its hard work and commitment in support of its local community.