90 SECOND STATEMENT- SAILABILITY BAYSIDE

 This month I’m holding the first Bonner Volunteer Awards, which I’ve spoken about before here. In the spirit of these awards, today I’d like to speak on Sailability Bayside, an outstanding volunteer organisation in Bonner that has been providing a tremendous service for local people with disabilities for many years.

A few weeks ago I spent a beautiful morning with the Sailability volunteers down at Manly Boat Harbour. It was great seeing them in action. Every week on Mondays and Thursdays between 9am and 2pm, the volunteers take up to 85 people with disabilities and their carers out sailing in small dinghies. They also sail on their yacht Faith, which has been designed specifically for the disabled.

Unfortunately time didn’t allow me to get out on the water with them, but it was heart-warming to see how excited each participant was. Sailability does truly selfless work making these fun adventures available to people with disabilities every week. As a not-for-profit group they rely on donations, fundraising and grants. Most importantly, they need volunteers to keep operating.

Nanetta from Sailability tells me they require around 30 more volunteers to help out on their sailing days. I would encourage anyone who loves sailing and wants to give back to the community to consider volunteering their time to this wonderful organisation.

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Wynnum Bayside Camera Club

This club has a small but enthusiastic group of members who share a passionate interest in photography. It meets on the second and fourth Tuesday at the Philatelic Hall, Cnr. West Avenue and Coolcrest Street Wynnum.

The club is always looking for new members and to encourage budding photographers to come along to a meeting to see if the club is a good fit for them. For more details visit wbcc.net.au/ and their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Wynnum-Bayside-Camera-Club-411775202215799/.

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School Leaders Encouraged to Dream Big

School leaders from all around the Bonner electorate were yesterday celebrated in a ceremony hosted by Federal MP Ross Vasta.

Manly West State School, Mt Gravatt East State School and Clairvaux College leaders joined with more than 40 students from other local Primary and High Schools to attend the event, and were treated to a moving motivational speech from Red Frogs founder and CEO Andy Gourley.

The students were captivated by Andy’s enthralling speech explaining how Red Frogs came to be the organisation that it is today despite its humble beginnings.

“In the very beginning all I was doing was offering a little time once a year to keep an eye on my skater mates who were attending schoolies.

“It doesn’t take much to make a huge difference the best thing to remember is doing something is always better than doing nothing.

Starting off at schoolies, Andy explained how Red Frogs quickly became a roaring success for the great work it does.

“Red Frogs now operates in more than seven countries across the world, with over $180,000 worth of lollies donated by Allens allowing us to hand out more than 2.5 million red frogs each year at events,” said Andy.

The students were astounded by the sheer size of the operation asking Andy a range of questions about how Red Frogs began 20 year ago and what he predicted for the organisation.

“Why did you pick red frogs to give out?”

“Was it scary starting Red Frogs 20 years ago?”

“If you didn’t start Red Frogs what would you be doing now?”

“Why did you choose to start Red Frogs?”

Andy finished with a simple quote to inspire the students going forward in their lives.

“Leadership influences others and passion creates change, so you need to become the change you want to see in the world.”

Local MP Ross Vasta said it’s great to be able to acknowledge the students for their leadership initiative and further encourage them to lead by example.

“It was wonderful to see such a strong turnout of student leaders in our community and to be able to connect them with such amazing influencers like Andy.”

Clairvaux College Principal, Dr. Andrea O’Brien said the students returned from the event beaming with enthusiasm.

“The students thoroughly enjoyed attending the Afternoon Tea hosted by Mr Ross Vasta MP.  It provided them an opportunity to meet and build relationships with other School Leaders in our wider community.

Principal O’Brien said the students and teachers also commented on how inspired they were after listening to Mr Andy Gourley and as a result how empowered they feel to make a difference in their own College Community.

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WYNNUM MANLY SEAGULLS KICKING GOALS

The community of Wynnum Manly joined the Seagulls on Saturday evening to celebrate the opening of the upgraded Manly Seagulls Clubhouse, which includes the redesign and modernisation of the existing Clubhouse change rooms, and an extension to the building to accommodate a new gymnasium.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta, who joined the Seagulls for the opening, said the newly upgraded clubhouse would be a game changer for Wynnum.

“The upgrades to the clubhouse will meet the growing needs of the club and provide the opportunity to host more and larger competitions in the region,” Mr Vasta said.

“I’m thrilled to see this facility opened just in time for the Seagull’s first home game at BMD Kougari Oval – Up the Gulls!”

CEO for the Club, Hanan Laban, said the facility redevelopment had been a long time coming.

“The Seagulls administration saved every penny and applied for grants for over ten years. The sheds were in dire need of an upgrade. I would like to thank the Australian Government, the Queensland Government, and the Queensland Rugby League for their investment in the project and the local community,” Mr Laban said.

“This facility will provide a number of benefits including a professional environment for our Seagulls players and the Seagull academy. It will enhance rugby league pathway opportunities in the local area, continue the Seagulls’ wonderful support of school rugby league, and become a community hub for sport and fitness events in the area.

“It is a facility that will provide great opportunities for the Seagulls and the local community and we’re thankful for the support of our partners who are here today.”

Minister for Regional Development Fiona Nash said local sporting clubs play an important role in building successful communities, and that the redevelopment would support future growth in sports participation

“I aim to help build the kinds of communities our children and grandchildren either want to stay in or come back to and access to great sporting facilities like this are a big part of that,” Minister Nash said.

This project was jointly funded by the Australian Government ($400,000), the Queensland State Government ($100,000), and the Queensland Rugby League ($100,000).

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BONNER EASTER COLOURING-IN COMPETITION NOW OPEN!

Get your colouring-in pencils ready: local three to six-year-olds can now enter the great Bonner Easter Colouring-In Competition, Federal Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta said today.

“To get in the spirit of Easter this year, I will be sending out Easter-themed colouring-in sheets to kindergartens and prep schools all across my electorate,” Mr Vasta said.

“I can’t wait to see each entry and put the winning pictures on display in my Parliament House office!”

An Easter basket book prize will be presented to one kindergarten participant and one prep school participant.

The competition closes on Friday, 7th April. Winners will be drawn on the morning of Monday, 10th April.

“I encourage kids to take part in this fun competition that’s a great activity to do at home over the school holidays,” Mr Vasta said.

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Clean Up Australia Day 2017

This Clean up Australia Day get involved with one of the local events. It's a wonderful way to help protect wildlife from trash and stop rubbish from ending up in our waterways. Some of the clean-up sites in our area are listed below:


Clean Up Australia DayClean Up Australia Day Sunday 5th March:


I will be helping out at the Wynnum RSL so come on down and help myself and the Veterans out to pick up some Rubbish.

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ADJOURNMENT SPEECH- COMMUNITY VISITORS SCHEME- 28 FEBRUARY 2017

Today I would like to speak about two volunteer initiatives that are doing wonderful things for lonely and socially isolated individuals and aged care residents in my Bonner electorate. These initiatives are funded through the Federal Government’s Community Visitors Scheme. One auspice is run by the Wynnum Baptist Church; the other by Anglicare Southern Queensland.

Last week I had the pleasure of meeting with Sarah Konovalenko, Anglicare’s Community Visitor Scheme Coordinator, to discuss their work. I also joined Wynnum Baptist Church last weekend to celebrate their 25 years of service through the scheme. I’ve always known how vital these services are in our community, especially in Bonner which has a number of elderly residents. But hearing stories firsthand and meeting people who have benefitted from the scheme really drove home for me the difference volunteer visitors make every day.

The Community Visitors Scheme matches volunteer visitors to individuals living in the community or small groups of residents of aged care facilities. Volunteers visit recipients for around an hour per fortnight to provide companionship through social interaction, conversation and shared interests. The great thing about the scheme is that volunteer visitors are simply regular people willing to give their time to become a companion, confidante and friend to older Australians in need.

For giving such a small amount of their time every fortnight, these volunteers make a huge difference to the quality of life of visit recipients. Volunteer visits increase recipients’ sense of wellness and belonging within their community, while reducing the risk of social isolation and loneliness.

I congratulate Wynnum Baptist Church for 25 years operating the Community Visitors Scheme in our local area. Thanks to their Scheme Coordinator Johanne Cook for inviting me to their celebration last weekend. I heard so many lovely stories from volunteers and residents that illustrate just how vital the scheme is and the benefits it brings to our community.

One volunteer, just 18 years old, was matched with a resident who’d had a stroke and was unable to be managed at home. The resident was very organised and had previously been a fighter pilot in the Vietnam War. The young visitor was told the most marvellous stories from this war veteran, stories the young man will have with him forever. The relationship was very much a benefit to them both. The young man listened intently and the resident enquired about what he was doing, why he was doing it, what his ambitions were, how he was going at uni, and so on. Lives shared, how amazing!

I applaud the selfless volunteers of the Community Visitors Scheme. I would also like to invite locals in my electorate to consider signing up to the scheme. There is a growing need within our community and residential aged care facilities for the services volunteer visitors provide. The Community Visitors Scheme is one of the most worthy volunteer initiatives I’ve been involved with and I encourage those interested in joining to contact my office for more details.

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History Alive- A Journey Through Time

History is better experienced in action!

Join us at Fort Lytton National Park on 10 & 11 June, 2017

for Queensland’s most unique living history event.


History Alive next goes off with a bang at 10:00 am on Saturday, 10 June 2017 and concludes at 4:00 pm on Sunday 11th June 2017.


History Alive: A Journey Through Time is held annually on the second weekend in June.

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90 Second Statement – Bonner Bright Stars – 14 February 2017

Thank you Madam/Deputy Speaker.

I rise in the house today to discuss the importance of encouraging the youth of today.

There are so many great young people doing incredible things in the electorate of Bonner, so this year I’ve decided to create an award to celebrate their wonderful achievements.

Starting in the month of March The Bonner Bright Star award will be open to all school aged children in my electorate who have achieved something great this month.

Whether it is excellence in sport, academic, environmental, volunteering or even just helping out in the community, I want to hear what our young people are doing.

Each month a local panel will select a winner who will then be awarded the bright star of that month and receive a gift voucher to help them continue their good work.

Nominations for the month of March are now open, and will close March 13.

It’s easy to submit a nomination, all you need to do is go to my website and tell me in 100 words or less why the person you’re nominating is deserving of the Bonner Bright Star award.

I can’t wait to see the nominations that come through, it’s so inspiring to be able to see what the youngest generations of our region are doing and encourage them to keep trying their hardest to pursue their dreams whatever they may be.

Thank you.

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