Speech in the ACT Legislative Assembly
24 February 2010
On Sunday I was very pleased to attend the inaugural Our Wellness Foundation Paper Plane Competition fundraiser
The fundraiser raised money for the Paediatrics Unit of the Canberra Hospital.
I was pleased to be at the fundraiser with my Assembly aeronautical engineering colleagues, Brendan Smyth, Steve Doszpot and Meredith Hunter.
I would like to acknowledge Herb McEachin (member of the NBL Hall of Frame), John del a Torre (Chairman, Wellness Foundation), Lana Bruton (Owner Fernwood Tuggeranong), Tad Dufelmeier, Steve Simpson (Director of Nursing, Paediatrics, Canberra Hospital), and Cam Sullings (Mix 106.3) who also competed.
Cal Bruton, also member of the NBL Hall of Frame, hosted the competition.
I’d also like to commend Susan Batts, Anne Freeman and the other Wellness Foundation volunteers who made the event possible.
There were many generous sponsors and supporters, and they include:
- Lions International (Canberra Lake Burley Griffin Club)
- Fernwood
- Balloon Aloft
- Murrays Coaches
- Nutrimetics Naturally
- Q ACT
- Ellcon Group
- Dick Smith’s Genuine Australian Foods
- Canberra Day Spa
- ACT Fire Brigade
- Bridge Climb Sydney
- Club Lime
- Hotondo Homes
- Constable Kenny Koala
- Mix 106.3
And I would like to thank the Board of the Our Wellness Foundation:
- John de la Torre (Chair)
- Dr Graham Reynolds (Deputy Chair)
- Gai Brodtmann
- Veronica Croome
- Professor Nicholas Glasgow
- Dr Tanya Robertson
- Deborah Rolfe
- Hilary Russell
- Dr Anne Sneddon
- Andrew Taylor
- Moira Lye (Executive Officer)
Our Wellness Foundation was established in 2008 . The foundation aims to, and I quote, “raise money for the strategies, services and research that promote the health and wellbeing of the people of the Australian Capital Territory and surrounding region.”
To achieve this aim they seek to raise money for new services and facilities in the health sector, in addition to what is already provided through government and the private sector. The foundation works with the community to ensure an effective partnership between the community and health care providers.
The Wellness Foundation has a friends program. Friends of Our Wellness Foundation are those people who are interested in directing the foundation’s work and receive invitations to their fundraisers and opportunities to participate in local health initiatives.
I would like to thank all those donors, supporters, volunteers, friends, and board members, who are so committed to improving health care in the ACT.
More information about the foundation can be found at the foundation’s website at www.ourwellnessfoundation.org.au.
