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- 8 June 2006
Lismore West Rotary Club
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Page: 989
Mr THOMAS GEORGE (Lismore) [5.30 p.m.]: Tonight I offer a word of praise for the Rotary Club of Lismore West. Last February, Bob Barnes, on behalf of the club, invited me to attend a meeting of interested people—the Federal member for Page, Ian Causley; the Mayor of Lismore City Council, Merv King; and another representative from the Rotary Club of Lismore West, Keith Parry—to discuss an idea he had to put together a committee to have a "Night of the Decade". The concept was a success from day one. The idea was that Bob Barnes would approach businesses in Lismore and try to get 300 to 400 people to attend the Lismore Workers Club for the event. He did that and_whacko_we had a great night. The Combined Charities Auction Extravaganza was held on Saturday 13 May at the Lismore Workers Club. The beneficiaries of the night were Lismore Challenge Limited, Summerland House with No Steps, the St Vincent's Rehabilitation Unit, the Police Citizens Youth Club Lismore, Summerland Early Intervention and the Rotary Club of Lismore West.
Five hundred people turned up and $90,000 was raised to support the six charities. Dr Bill Buddee, who was also part of the committee, is the president of the Summerland House with No Steps. That charity's charter is the training and employment of people with a disability to enhance their quality of life. Jim Crethar, who was also part of the committee and is a great supporter of the community, represented his favourite organisation, the Police Citizens Youth Club, Lismore. That club has been a landmark in Lismore, providing educational, recreational and cultural activities in the community since 1971. Ian Walker is the chief executive officer of Lismore Challenge Limited. That organisation has provided training and support services for people with disabilities in Lismore for more than 54 years. Last week Lismore Challenge Limited was voted Lismore city's business of the year_that is how much of a community organisation it is. I pay tribute to Ian and the team.
St Vincent's Hospital Rehabilitation and Aged Care Service—I do not need to tell people in this House what those organisations do, they speak for themselves_benefited from the event even though it is part of the public health service that provides both inpatient and outpatient care. The service looks after about 350 patients the year, and that is extraordinary. Summerland Early Intervention is an early intervention centre that has been operating for 28 years in Lismore. It helps children with health problems from birth to five years of age. It is doing a tremendous job in the community. All those organisations combined with the Rotary Club of Lismore West to put on this extravaganza. The $90,000 that was raised was far above everyone's expectations. I do not know how much time the Rotary Club of Lismore West, Bob Barnes and his family put into organising this event. Bob and his family really got behind the event. Some of the items that were sold were big-ticket items. It was a great night. I congratulate all the people involved.
I want to pay tribute to a special person who works with Hansard here at Parliament House but who comes from Casino, Lisa Gelzinnis. Lisa will have a lovely honour bestowed on her in the next week or so. I know she will be very embarrassed by my raising this issue and she will probably not talk to me again! She does a tremendous job with Hansard and she does a lot for her family. This honour is in recognition of the special gift she gave her sister, and I pay tribute to her. I know that everyone at home is very proud of her. I trust that she will enjoy the honour next week. She deserves it.
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