Federal Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta today held a special ceremony to congratulate the recipients of the inaugural Bonner Volunteer Awards and present them with their awards.

“These awards are intended to give thanks to individuals and teams that have demonstrated outstanding volunteer qualities. They recognise volunteers who’ve made a significant and lasting contribution to the community, who’ve set a good example for fellow volunteers and have inspired others to volunteer,” Mr Vasta said.

This year’s winners include:

• Mr Allan Tennent (Adult 25 to 64 years) – Allan is part of the Australian Volunteer Coastguard Flotilla (known as Coastguard Brisbane) for over 30 years. He freely gives his own time to teach and mentor others and is committed to his community and crews.

• Ms Annie Stonehouse (Adult 25 to 64 years) – Annie is a member of the Rotary Club of Carindale and many more volunteer organisations, including those that support women in need such as Chicks in Pink and The Period Project, and Peter Baines’ Hands Across the Water. Also when she owned the Cupcake Parlour she donated cupcakes to just about every event happening locally.

• Mr John Bettenay (Senior 65 years+) – John has been a member of several Queensland Rotary Clubs since 1975 and has held various executive committee positions at both Club and District levels. He joined the Rotary Club of Mt Gravatt in 1996 and has been an active member of the Club and its activities in the local area since that time. He has hosted international exchange students, been a member of the Board of Directors, is current Treasurer for the Mt Gravatt Club (a position which he has held for many years) and always supports the Club's regular fundraising efforts.

• Mrs Beryl Acton (Senior 65 years+) – Beryl has been running sewing workshop classes at St Bart’s Anglican Church at Mt Gravatt for the last few years. She also offers to do free mending and alteration work for the Hope Chicks who provide support to vulnerable and disadvantaged women. The Chicks love her sweetness, patience and cheerfulness. She genuinely loves the women and doesn't ever lecture or judge. She pops in from time-to-time, regardless of sewing workshops, to see how everyone is going.

• Mr Andrew Walsh (Environmental Work) – Andrew has been actively volunteering and supporting community-based sustainability projects for over 14 years, including partnering Mount Gravatt High School with the Mount Gravatt Environmental Group and Bulimba Creek Catchment committee. He inspires students to care for their local environment and He has tirelessly given his time to work on projects to reclaim and rectify natural flora and fauna habitats and wildlife corridors.

• Eastern Group State Emergency Service (Volunteer Team) – Eastern Group SES has a strong presence in the community. It is continuously raising community awareness about being “storm ready” and is also involved in many missing person searches. Its volunteer members continue to turn up to training every week to ensure they maintain the skills required to help out with tarping damaged roofs, sandbagging and temporary flood damage, to ensure they’re ready when the next storm comes.

• Mr Kris Webb (Sports Achievement) – Kris is the president of Wynnum Bugs Rugby Club and has spent the last five years rebuilding the club. Thanks to his tireless work with no recognition or reward the Bugs is now enjoyed by hundreds of families and will be enjoyed by everyone for many more years. His actions went above and beyond that of a normal committee member and he is to be commended for saving the Wynnum Bugs Rugby Club from closure.

• Mr Zac Pankhurst (Student) – Zac is a Year 10 student at Iona College and is a member of the Ride Against Drugs (RAD) group. He is a great ambassador for other boys of his age and he gives up his time to chat to them and positively influence them to make good choices. He is a great kid and also an amazing BMX rider.

“This year’s winners, and every person and group that was nominated this year, should be proud of their achievement. It’s a testament to their hard work and dedication as a volunteer and I’d personally like to thank them for the positive difference they’re making in our local community,” Mr Vasta said.

Federal Assistant Minister for Vocational Education and Skills, the Hon Karen Andrews, says the Turnbull Government’s tax cuts for small and medium businesses will provide more opportunities for young people to take up an apprenticeship.

Minister Andrews joined Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta, to visit local company Corona Cabinets that already employs 17 apprentices servicing the construction sector.

“Apprentices have been a key part of Corona Cabinets success since the company started in 2002 with just four employees,’ Minister Andrews said.

“It’s now grown to over 70 staff and is a great example of how investing in apprentices can bring long term benefits for a business and I congratulate the owner of Corona Cabinet on the company’s success.

“The tax cuts being introduced by the Coalition will provide more opportunity for the companies like Corona Cabinets to invest and grow, with the potential for even more local apprenticeships,” Minister Andrews said.

Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta, said Corona Cabinets is one of nearly 16 thousand businesses in the electorate to benefit from the Turnbull Government’s tax cuts.

“It means thousands of local companies will have greater capacity to invest in their business and that can only lead to more local jobs,” Mr Vasta said.

“The tax cuts have been widely welcomed throughout the electorate not just by business owners but from people who understand the positive impact they’ll have on the local economy.”

Tim McDonald from Corona Cabinets said apprentices have made a great contribution to the company.

“A company like ours can only grow with a skilled workforce and our apprenticeship program has been central to achieving that,” Mr McDonald said.

“The company tax cuts will enable us to look at further investing in the business to continue servicing the construction industry with the potential to take on even more apprentices.”

Minister Andrews said apprenticeships are a valued pathway to a well-paying job and career.

“Many business owners in the trade sector started out as apprentices who’ve gone on to forge a successful career.

“Australia needs to build its skilled workforce to continue our economic growth and I encourage people looking to enter the workforce to consider taking up an apprenticeship,” Minister Andrews said.

Small business owners based in Bonner are invited to attend an intimate one-on-one Q&A session with Federal Minister for Small Business, the Hon Michael McCormack on Tuesday, 11 April, Federal Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta said today.

The event will be open to small business people in the Bonner electorate to come meet with the Minister, discuss negative and positive experiences from their own backyards and take part in influencing the legislative process.

“This is a great opportunity to come have a friendly chat with the Minister and present to him any business-related questions or concerns that are on your mind,” Mr Vasta said.

“I encourage local business owners who are interested in attending to register by contacting my office.”

Mr Vasta will be partnering with President of Southside Chamber of Commerce, Kathleen Lewis, to host the event.

“On behalf of the Southside Chamber of Commerce, we are really excited that we have the Minister’s ear,” Mrs Lewis said.

“On Tuesday, you have the invitation to eyeball the Minister, and speak directly to Government. Do not miss out on this opportunity.”

To register your interest in attending please contact Ross Vasta’s office on 3893 3488.

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).

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.

Federal MP for Bonner Ross Vasta is supporting young high achievers in his electorate by introducing the inaugural Bonner Bright Star award for the month of March.

Nominations are now open for the new award and will celebrate the accomplishments of youth in the Bonner electorate.

Mr Vasta said the award is open for all children of school age who are reaching outstanding results in sport, education, art or any other activity or commitment they are involved in.

“It’s a pleasure to be able to support the young people of our community. As a father of two I am always trying to encourage my boys to do and be the best they can, and as the Federal Member I want to be able to do the same for the kids of our community.

“While it may sound overdone children really are the future, and I am passionate about encouraging future generations to strive for greatness.”

Separate nominations will be taken each month and Member for Bonner Ross Vasta will announce the winner at the end of each month in a special ceremony congratulating the winner with a prize.

Nomination forms for the March Bonner Bright Star are now available online at www.rossvasta.com.au, all you have to do is describe in 100 words or less why your nominee deserves to be the Bonner Bright Star for this month.