Mr HARTSUYKER (9:55 AM) —Last Sunday I attended a fundraising event in support of Alan McCabe and his family. Alan was a healthy young adult until the rugby union grand final this year, when he became a quadriplegic when a scrum collapsed. At the time of the accident the McCabe family was a typical Aussie family with a new baby on the way but, since that accident, all of that has changed. Alan is still in hospital in Sydney in the spinal unit. Because of this tragedy, the community has rallied behind the McCabes and is raising funds to assist them in the challenges that lie ahead.

Julie McCabe is a teacher at St Augustine's School. It is a good school with excellent values. It promotes academic excellence, excellence in sport, family values and Christian values. Those values are reflected in the way that many of the teachers and families from the school are supporting the McCabes in their attempt to raise funds. The Coffs Harbour Harlequins Rugby Club has also got behind the family at this very difficult time.

I would also like to commend the members of the McCabe Trust, who are committed to raising funds on behalf of the McCabe family. In particular I would like to commend Maureen Kennedy, Alan Sparkes, Dwayne Vignes, Robert McCabe, Ross Burton, Julie Wills, Ngaire Robinson, Carolyn Perkins, Narelle Coreless, Michaela O'Shea-Miller, Kyanne Kachael and Jenny Ryan. I understand that through the work of the trust they have managed to raise in the order of $45,000 to support the family. There was an INXS concert and the proceeds from the concert went to the McCabes. There were also various raffles and a community fun day. Alan McCabe, in his attempts to achieve rehabilitation, is an inspiration to us all. Likewise, the members of the McCabe Trust are an inspiration for the hard work that they are putting in to support a very much valued member of the community.

I would also like to commend the people of Coffs Harbour who have rallied behind the McCabes. There are many drains on the funds of families these days, and people have been very giving in contributing financial support to assist the McCabe family in what is going to be a very great struggle ahead. The trust are not resting on their laurels. Their work is ongoing and they are planning a range of events over time. One of the members of the trust, Mr Alan Sparkes, has a brother who was also made a quadriplegic in a rugby accident, and he is fully aware of what the McCabes must be going through. He has focused on the fact that the community has to keep supporting the McCabes over a long period of time. This is something that they will have to live with over a long period and we are certainly focused on the fact that community support for the McCabes will have to be delivered over a long period of time.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Jenkins)—Order! The time for members' statements has concluded.