Mr WOOD (10:19 AM) —I rise to tell the House about the great volunteer small equipment grants through which the residents of La Trobe were able to secure $25,000 in funding. One of the recipients was the St Vincent de Paul Society in Upper Ferntree Gully, which received over $2,000 through the round of volunteer small equipment grants. St Vincent de Paul received the grant for an electric heater and 400 reusable food parcel carry bags. It is important to note that any funding these organisations receive must go back to the people they are there to help. Therefore they cannot purchase products like this for their own organisation. I am very glad to say that the Howard government was able to assist them with their needs.

I met with Gordon Veerasawmy, Judy Atu, Allan Bailey, Dennis Buckley, Bev McNamara, Connie Bala, Elsie Johnson, Wally Johnson, Brother Michael, Peter Springfellow, Vivian Springfellow and Adele Paterson on 27 August this year to discuss local issues and congratulate them on the valuable contribution they make to the local community. The society exists primarily to provide home assistance to the poor. It understands their personal need for as much assistance as its resources will allow. I am thrilled that the society was successful in its application under this grants scheme as it acknowledges the hard work and dedication of these local volunteers. Each of the society’s members works tirelessly on a voluntary basis, providing one-on-one assistance for the people of our local community who need the most help. Each month they assist approximately 30 people through their efforts. The provision of an electric heater and reusable food parcels carry bags will make a significant difference to the services they provide to the local community. This organisation may not have been otherwise able to afford these items.

On a final note, I would like to make special mention of Gordon Veerasawmy, who went above and beyond the group’s responsibilities recently after I received a call for help from Merv and Elaine Vincent, who had an old stove they needed removed but were unable to do it themselves. My office contacted Gordon to see if there was anything the society could do. Gordon, with the assistance of Dennis, quickly went to the house, removed the heater and took it to the tip. It is little things like this which make St Vincent de Paul’s a great community group. Again, I wish to strongly thank this organisation for the fantastic work they do in the local community.