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- 31 May 2007
Kyogle Community
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Speakers - George Mr Thomas
Business - Private Members Statements
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Page: 647
Mr THOMAS GEORGE (Lismore) [4.28 p.m.]: This afternoon I wish to pay tribute to the Kyogle community. For members who may not be aware, Kyogle has a population of about 3,500. Not long ago the major employer in the town, which employed more than 130 people, lost its processing plant overnight and the community was gutted. However, knowing the resilience of the Kyogle community I am sure they will pull together. I wish to place on record my appreciation not only to the Kyogle community but also to the community surrounding Kyogle. The residents of Kyogle support each other continually. They provided a great deal of support for the workers when that tragedy happened, and they did a very good job of it. Some four weeks ago Kyogle held its inaugural Relay for Life.
I had the pleasure of being there for the opening, and more than 500 people turned up to take part in the Relay for Life. The most heartening part of that afternoon was when I saw more than 50 cancer survivors take part in the opening lap. Anna Fitzalan, a survivor of breast cancer and chair of the Relay for Life committee, and members of the committee put together this wonderful event. In doing so they raised in excess of $40,000. I remember a young lady at the event, Breanna Whitney, suffering from leukaemia at two years of age. She was blessed with a second chance and she was able to lead everyone in a wonderful prayer on that day. I pay tribute to the organisers and everyone who participated in such a wonderful event.
A young boy at Kyogle, Tyson Alcorn, had a motorbike accident at Christmas and became a quadriplegic. Last Saturday at Kyogle the community banded together to provide Tyson with some things he needed following his tragic accident. Tyson now spends his time in the spinal unit of the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane, which is three hours away from his family and friends from back home. The Kyogle community was inspired by Tyson's story and last weekend put together a wonderful day which was organised by the Kyogle Rugby League Club, for which Tyson had been an outstanding junior footballer. John Spackman brought together an excellent team of organisers to arrange the day.
This community of 3,500 people, which was devastated only three years ago and had raised $40,000 just weeks before for Relay for Life, last Saturday raised $80,000. That shows the dedication and support of those in this small community and its surrounding areas. Tyson's father, Russell, and mother, Maree, have been overcome by what has happened in their lives, but they were certainly honoured to have the day for Tyson last Saturday. A family friend, the mother of a classmate of Tyson's, has now provided a house in Brisbane so the family can be accommodated there with Tyson. Once again I place on record my appreciation—and I am sure I speak for members of the community at large—to the Kyogle community for the wonderful job it has done.
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