The Bonner Senior’s expo is just around the corner, and I cannot wait!
My electorate of Bonner is home to some wonderful community organisations, dedicated to improving the lives of our seniors.
In fact, every year, locals tell me they had no idea about some of the valuable resources they can access as older members of our community.
We have government services, innovative business and dedicated not for profits.
Bonner really does have a lot to offer those who are part of, care for, or work with senior Australians.
That’s why I host the annual Bonner Senior’s Expo, to bring together those who provide and benefit from these resources!
This year we have an exciting line-up of over 50 vendors, across a range of topics.
If there are any organisations still interested in having a stall at the expo, please send me an email.
We have limited spaces left, but I would love to include as much of our community as possible.
In addition to vendors, we’ll have expert speakers, live entertainment, and delicious refreshments to ensure this year’s expo is Bonner’s best yet…
There might even be a fashion show in the works.
This year’s Bonner Senior’s Expo is being held at the Waterloo Bay Leisure Centre, on Thursday October 3rd.
It will run from 9am to 12pm, and is sure to be an informative, social, and most of all FUN, morning out!
RSVPs are not necessary, but if anyone has any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to reach out to my office!
One of the most important responsibilities I have as a father, and member of Parliament, is to ensure the next generation grows up knowing they are safe, valued and supported.
Last week, thousands of organisations rallied behind National Child Protection Week.
As a dad, there is nothing more terrifying than the thought of something happening to one of my boys.
For Bruce and Denise Morcombe, this fear became reality when their 13-year-old son Daniel was abducted and murdered.
As many Australians know, Daniel was simply waiting at a bus stop in Queensland, on his way to buy Christmas presents for his family.
Following this unthinkable day, Bruce and Denise, in the midst of their grief, saw an opportunity to make a difference.
Together, they started the Daniel Morcombe Foundation to educate other children on how to stay safe.
National Child Protection Week is not only about responding to the current issue but also proactively equipping children with the confidence to recognise and escape unsafe situations.
For the last eight years, the Daniel Morcombe Foundation has helped keep kids safe through the ‘Australia’s Biggest Child Safety Lesson’ initiative.
This year’s lesson was live-streamed across Australia, from Manly State School in my electorate of Bonner!
The biggest safety lesson provides an easy way for teachers, parents, and carers to confidently discuss enthusiastic and affirmative consent.
What does this mean?
It means teaching our kids the importance of not crossing or blurring boundaries, and ensuring that consent is always truly, freely, clearly and whole-heartedly given.
It was awesome to see this event live-streamed from Bonner, to hundreds of thousands of students across Australia.
Thank you to our hosts – Koko and Fynn – for keeping us informed and engaged.
Remember, always ask for consent, and wait for enthusiastic and affirmative confirmation.
I’d also like to acknowledge David Crisafulli, and Queensland LNP opposition who, yesterday, standing alongside Bruce and Denise, committed to establishing a public sex offender register.
Named ‘Daniel’s Law’, this register is a tangible step toward making our community safer.
Lastly, thank you to Bruce and Denise, for your continued advocacy and commitment to helping our kids stay safe.
By teaching our young ones the skills needed to recognise, react and report unsafe situations, the Daniel Morcombe Foundation has not only become a powerful symbol of hope but undoubtedly saved lives.
While nothing will bring Daniel back, Bruce and Denise have courageously turned a tragedy into a powerful platform to raise awareness and bring change.
It was an honour to be part of last week’s Australia’sBiggest Child Safety Lesson and I look forward to continuing to work with this driven team.
For over 115 years, the Girl Guides have been uplifting, supporting and empowering young, Australian women and girls.
From instilling resilience and practical skills, to fostering life-long friendships, their mission and impact extend far beyond cookies and badges.
In fact, the Girl Guides are the largest youth organisation for girls and women in our Sunshine State, with almost 3,000 Youth Members and 1,000 volunteer Leaders and Adult Members.
Last Saturday, I joined the Mount Gravatt Girl Guides in repainting their facilities.
It was a big job, but thanks to Cheryl’s organisation and coordination, we were able to get the job done.. and have fun too!
Shout out to Glynis, Carol and Kathy who are also from the Guides!
Fun Fact – Kathy was my year 6 teacher… how times have changed!
Thank you to Pinky Singh, our LNP candidate for Mansfield, for coming out in support of our Guides – and rallying an army of volunteers.
Thanks also to Taubmans and Dulux for donating the paint, and to Bunnings at Mt Gravatt for the work platforms.
It was certainly a community effort!
The time and care put into this project is a testament to the contribution the Guides make to our locals in Mount Gravatt and the surrounding suburbs.
I hope this fresh look brings new energy and pride, to the timeless mission of the Girl Guides.
I commend the organisation for their commitment to uplifting young Bonner women, and look forward to continuing to support Cheryl and the team!
Thank you and well done, Mount Gravatt Girl Guides!
We all know that Australia is in a cost-of-living crisis that is indiscriminately affecting households, small businesses, students and families. Basic needs have all gone up in price. Housing and rents are up 15 per cent.
Electricity is up 22 per cent; gas is up 25 per cent. Unfortunately, this means that demand for not-for-profits has skyrocketed alongside rising inflation, costly overheads and reduced donations.
While our local charities and community organisations are going above and beyond to provide support, it is sad to see that they are receiving little in return.
The economic contribution of these charities is estimated to sit at $129 billion, a sector roughly equivalent in size to our retail sector.
Furthermore, charities often provide better quality services than the government and for-profits due to client relationships that are built on trust.
In May, the Senate Select Committee on the Cost of Living handed down its second interim report on solutions to address the cost-of-living pressures in Australia.
The report included two key findings concerning volunteer organisations.
Firstly, the cost-of-living crisis is causing an increase in the demand for services provided by the charitable and not-for-profit sector.
Most major charities focus on the delivery of essential services, such as emergency response work, supporting people in crisis and social services.
Charities catering to this growing need are doing so in an operating environment that is becoming more difficult by the day.
The Wesley Mission Salvation Army and other charities have all shared similar experiences of unprecedented demand with OzHarvest recording a 73 per cent increase in the six months prior to March this year.
The committee was alarmed to hear that individuals in full-time employment, as well as families with dual incomes, are now often those seeking support from charities.
Secondly, the interim report found that charities have been unable to meet increasing demand due to increased overheads and less charitable giving.
The added strain not only on patrons but also on volunteers is affecting the operation of charities. As one respondent said, ‘I save petrol by stopping voluntary work.
This reduction of volunteerism is a sad state for our economy, but it is not due to any fault of the organisations or volunteers themselves.
Volunteers Australia have also noted a sharp decline in formal volunteering.
Sadly, they also contribute this to financial strain, finding that 16.6 per cent of people did not volunteer in the past 12 months due to financial reasons.
In Bonner, we have a wide range of volunteer groups, catering for the diverse passions, needs and interests of our community.
From the Wynnum Historical Society to the Red Frogs, and Beyond DV, we have many dedicated P&Cs, local churches, sporting clubs and environmentalists.
The Wynnum Community Place is a charity in my electorate of Bonner that not only provides food and financial relief but also a connection, relationship and dignity for vulnerable locals.
And other than funding secured in July 2021, the hub has operated completely unfunded.
Despite this, they have returned $1.25 million in value.
That’s an incredible return on investment. In the last two years, Wynnum Community Place lost 46 per cent of its funding while experiencing a 126 per cent increase in need since December 2022.
Unfortunately, without intervention, the community hub will be forced to close its doors on 30 September.
That is why I have written to the federal Minister for Social Services to help Wynnum Community Place.
I visited them last week to speak with Dave, who is part of the team at Wynnum Community Place.
He told me that he’d seen people come in in the depths of despair and leave as different people.
They now present relaxed and friendlier with their interactions with others in a place that they can call home.
To see Wynnum Community Place close would be a sad day for our local community.
I thank Dave, Mr Chad Gardiner and Mr Craig Moore for their representation on this urgent matter.
It is undeniably an institution of incredible value, one which we must continue to support.
Too often I hear clubs and non-for-profits in Bonner are eager to get off the ground, but find it difficult to find a space to meet with members and supporters – As many Brisbane City Council libraries are at Capacity.
Fortunately, I come bearing good news…
If you are part of a community group in Bonner, my board room is free for you to use as you wish – such as for meetings or events.
That’s right, the Alan Burge Community Room is officially open!
Over the past few years, Mr Alan Burge has been expertly tuning and restoring a Beale, 1907, all Australian made piano in my office.
Alan’s perseverance and joy throughout the project has been such a testament to the goodwill and talent of so many Australians – that I have decided to name this great space after him.
It has been a pleasure to be able to host Alan, as he has restored this piano to it’s former glory.
I look forward to welcoming more of the community into the Bonner office and seeing the potential of this space fully unlocked and appreciated – just like my piano.
We have already had some booking requests come through, so I encourage interested groups to secure their spot!
If you are interested in using the Alan Burge Community Room, please send me an email at ross.vasta.mp@aph.gov.au
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Mr Daryl Wilson of Upper Mount Gravatt.
Daryl has been our Bonner Community’s representative, as part of The Brisbane Airport Community Aviation Consultation Group since 2019.
Uniting governments, industry professionals and locals, this group serves as a forum for those impacted by developments and operations at the Brisbane Airport – particularly relating to noise pollution.
It has been a pleasure to work with such an experienced and passionate advocate.
Daryl has represented our community’s interests well, and I applaud him for his service. Flight noise can be a frustrating issue for many in our community.
As someone who lives under a flight path, it is with the upmost sincerity that I say — that I am working hard to effectively advocate for common sense solutions to this issue.
Together, Daryl and I have fought and advocated for common sense solutions, in the best interests of Bonner local’s health and standard of living.
With Daryl’s assistance I have written to the Minister, submitted multiple petitions and hosted forums to ensure everyone can have their voices heard.
While our petition on the proposed flight paths for the Southern Suburbs of Bonner is still being considered by Air Services Australia and the Minister, I have been encouraged by the success of the phase 1 petition.
Thank you to the 1800 locals who signed the, I am proud to say our voices were heard! Air Services Australia have decided to stop the proposed flight changes over the Bayside.
I thank Daryl for his service and wish him every success in the future.
It takes special kind of person to sacrifice their own time, and energy to help another.
While they may not necessarily have the resources or effort to give, it is those who are of exceptional character who persevere and get the job done – even when there is no reward or often times recognition.
It’s this unique sense humility, duty, and compassion for others, that is rare and so worthy of celebration.
This is why I host the annual Bonner Volunteer Awards – to recognise some of the very best in our community.
We had over 60 nominations this year, our highest to date, and it was my difficult task to narrow down these to just 5 awardees!
Congratulations to all those who were nominated.
The quality of each of your stories is a testament to the community mindedness and dedication of so many….
Bonner locals are the Best!
In the Young Volunteer Category, Xavier Curry, of Mansfield State High School, took the win! Xavier sacrifices much of his time to working with organisations such as the Emmanual City Mission and Brisbane City Council’s Homeless Connect.
Thank you for your service, Xavier!
The Senior Volunteer of the Year Award was presented to Gavin Gray, for his work with OzFish.
Gavin has helped construct and deploy 10,000 Robust Oyster Banks which now filter 1.2 million litres of water every hour… creating homes for 21 million new marine animals and addressing the need for more habitats and biodiversity in our bay.
The Adult Volunteer of the Year Award was given to Merryl Bennett, the registrar at the Wynnum Manly Junior Rugby League Club.
She is committed to ensuring all players are properly documented, so they can participate safely.
Last year the Club even offered Meryl a paid position, but she declined saying “use the money for the kids.”
Sailability Bayside took the win for Volunteer Group of the Year, for their work providing wheelchair bound people with the opportunity to set sail in two person dinghies!
Thanks to the dedication of the Sailaibility volunteers, many more people have been able to enjoy our beautiful bayside.
Finally, I presented the George Kambouris Memorial Award.
This special award recognises volunteers who have shown outstanding resilience, excellence, and compassion in providing support for others in Bonner.
George Kambouris was a Carindale local who, despite being born with spina bifida, dedicated his life to mentoring young, individuals and enabling them to participate in sports.
George made an immeasurable contribution to our local community and has left a long-lasting legacy.
I was proud to present the George Kambouris Memorial Award to Tom Price, Wilson Griffin, and Jacob Marchant on behalf of You Are Not Alone.
Congratulations to all those who were nominated and recognised!
Did you know that over five million Australians are volunteers?
That’s five million individuals who have decided to generously commit their time and effort to serving others and making our community a better place.
In my electorate of Bonner, we have hundreds of volunteer organisations. To anyone who sacrifices their own time to improve the lives of others, I say thank you.
From MacKenzie Bushcare to our Bayside’s Coast Guard, your generosity and commitment is valued and appreciated.
I’m proud to have supported many of our local groups by providing funding through the Volunteer Grants program.
Of the many outstanding Bonner volunteer organisations, I’d like to highlight one mission in particular, StandbyU Foundation.
StandbyU is a not-for-profit that provides unique access points for people seeking refuge from domestic violence, abuse or loneliness.
At their Westfield Helensvale location, the team has provided help for over 3,000 vulnerable people in just three years.
I’m proud to have been able to partner with Chris and Michelle and the team at StandbyU to help them set up a shopfront in the heart of Westfield Mount Gravatt.
Named Magnolia Place, the shopfront will be an easily accessible place for individuals or families to find safety and support, whatever their circumstances.
Domestic violence is never okay, which is why I applaud StandbyU for their commitment to stop this scourge on a society. Again, to all the volunteers in in Bonner: thank you very much.
I’d firstly like to thank Mr Mike Goldman for bringing this important issue to my attention.
Voice acting is an art form. Professionals spend years training their vocals to entertain, inform and comfort us.
They make our favourite audiobooks believable, breakfast radio engaging and GPS systems lifelike. Currently, Australian voice actors risk losing their livelihoods due to synthetic clones of their own human vocals.
That’s right: replica sound bites created and broadcasted using AI without the original artist’s consent.
These are real Australians, such as Alistair Lee. Alistair is a blind vocal artist and could lose his income, leaving his family and young children vulnerable.
He said, ‘It comes back to consent and control over your own voice.’
The potential consequences of unregulated AI are vast, powerful and, frankly, terrifying.
These clones could be used to say anything at any time, with no-one able to determine the authenticity of the sound bite.
From scammers to perpetrators of domestic violence—we’ve even seen the use of AI manipulation during elections overseas.
This is why I’ll be working with the Minister for Communications and the Australian Association of Voice Actors to protect not only voice actors like Alistair and Mike but all Australians. Innovation and digital media should be used to make our lives better, not to replace us.
As I stand here today, an estimated 2.2 million Australians are living with anxiety, 1.5 million are suffering depression and, on average, nine Australians per day tragically take their own life.
It is sad to see that, according to Beyond Blue, 75 per cent of mental health challenges start before the age of 25.
Youth mental health is one of the most pressing issues of our time.
That is why we’re making sure there are appropriate and relevant supports that are easily accessible for those in need, and that’s become a priority of mine.
To make this happen, we need a youth perspective on youth issues, and I’m partnering with Tom and Wilson from youth mental health organisation You Are Not Alone to deliver my Bonner Youth Mental Health Forum.
As young people themselves, Tom and Wilson have run mental health workshops with over 16 local schools and reached over 50,000 students in South-East Queensland.
Each year, Tom and Wilson also organise the You Are Not Alone Fun Run, and I’ve had the pleasure of being involved in, supporting and attending this event since it started.
Last year it was fantastic to see over 2,000 participants running to raise awareness for youth mental health, with over $37,000 raised for Lifeline Queensland.
This year’s run will be held on 16 June in Brisbane’s CBD.
The Your Are Not Alone Fun Run is a great day to shine a light on mental health and bring young people together for a conversation.
I encourage anyone who lives in or around Brisbane to get behind this great cause by registering through the You Are Not Alone website.
As much as I look forward to attending this year’s You Are Not Alone Fun Run, I would like to talk a little bit more about my Bonner Youth Mental Health Forum.
The Bonner Youth Mental Health Forum is an opportunity for the youth in our community to have their say on how to better support young people struggling with mental health challenges.
It is putting the youth at the centre of decision-making and making sure that we develop solutions for young people by young people.
It will be held on Saturday 4 May at Mount Gravatt High School.
I urge all those in the Bonner community who are aged between 15 and 25 to RSVP for this event.
This is your opportunity to have your voice heard, and I can’t wait to see you there and have you share all your great ideas.
