RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS - Queensland Parliament ...

31 Oct 2012 Adjournment 2351
During the late 1920s the church recorded the greatest periods of growth, both spiritually and
materially. The congregation had a vision of expanding the church to a brick building capable of seating
their increasing needs, beginning work in 1928. By 1929 the Baptist Tabernacle, as it was originally
known, was complete and ready to seat 350 people. In 1967 a Christian education block was erected. In
1978 the school hall was expanded, and in 1981 a new front porch was added to the main tabernacle
building creating the church today as its followers know it.
The church has offered many outreach programs over its life including, more recently, support for
widows and a counselling ministry. During the war years the church kept contact with local men serving
in the forces at home and overseas, also supporting Baptists in England through funds such as the
Bombed Baptists of Britain Appeal. Throughout Australia the immediate postwar years were dedicated
to returning to normalcy and consolidation, and during this period the church kept up its support of war
sufferers contributing to the Money for Food for Britain scheme.
This event had other surprises for me. Ian Smallbone and his band Family performed for the
parishioners. Ian and I shared a grade 7 teacher together. It was comforting that his memory was in fine
form, as I thought we met each other in grade 4. I commend Senior Pastor Reverend Daryl Rossow and
his leadership team on the hard work that they have put into the church. In particular, I note the
substantial contribution of the steering committee under the guidance of Mr Ken Clarke. Ken's wife,
Helen, should be also commended for her perseverance over the many years in the organisation of this
momentous event. For over 100 years Silkstone Baptist Church has enriched the lives of many people
in the local community and the devotion of its members, I am sure, will see the church strongly through
another 100 years.
Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation, Cardiac Challenge
Mr PITT (Mulgrave—ALP) (12.38 am): In 2007 cardiovascular disease was a primary cause of
death for over 46,000 Australians, representing one-third of all deaths that year. Despite major gains
over the last 40 years, there is still a 50 per cent chance of a person dying from their first heart attack.
Cardiovascular disease continues to have a major effect on the health of Australians.
I was very proud on 29 September to be one of more than 300 riders who took part in the Far
North Queensland Hospital Foundation’s Cardiac Challenge, which is a bike ride from Cairns to
Cooktown of more than 335 kilometres. This bike ride is a logistical piece of excellence. It is organised
by the marketing and promotions coordinator from the FNQ Hospital Foundation, Glenys Duncombe,
who is well known in the Far North Queensland area as someone who just gets the job done. Glenys
and the team are doing major works bringing on board the defence forces, the SES and local
sponsors—you name it, everyone who was anyone in the region was involved. I was particularly
pleased to have been able to ride basically every metre of that ride barring one section. I am still
recovering from a bit of illness myself. It was a terrific thing. Pack riding is an experience and, if you
have not done it before, being 30 centimetres off the wheel in front of you is a hair-raising experience.
The ride itself raised more than $320,000 for cardiac support in the Cairns region. This is typical
of the very generous nature of people in Cairns and Far North Queensland given that we have an
unemployment rate of upwards of 9.7 per cent. People are doing it tough but they are still giving of their
money and their hearts. This has not stopped with the cardiac challenge, though. Since that time this
group has noticed an appeal put out by the Cairns Post about a 10-year-old boy in the community of
Yarrabah.
Charles Fourmile is a young man who is suffering from adrenoleukodystrophy. ALD was the
subject of the Hollywood movie Lorenzo's Oil in the 1990s. It is a progressive genetic disease and
unfortunately in most cases it proves fatal as there is deterioration of the nervous system. Charles does
not have a very good life expectancy. As his condition deteriorates, he is going to be requiring air
conditioning in his home in Yarrabah. Riders from the cardiac challenge are banding together, hopefully
on 18 November, to do a ride over the Yarrabah range, which is a very gruelling piece of landscape to
get across. We do hope they are able to do that and raise money at the same time. I want to say thank
you to Melanie Petrinec, a journalist from the Cairns Post who I think has taken a real interest in Charles
and his family. I think the people of Yarrabah in the electorate of Mulgrave certainly appreciate it.
Rosewood State High School, Awards Night
Mr CHOAT (Ipswich West—LNP) (12.41 am): I rise tonight to speak about my fantastic
Rosewood State High School. Last night I was privileged to be able to leave this place to attend their
annual awards night. I can report to the House that I was totally blown away by the fantastic night that
was completely facilitated by the students themselves. The Rosewood school captains hosted the
evening, with entertainment provided by the talented year 12 dancers and the school's band. Kacie
Heath, Zoey Major, Sergio Paez and Alex Dowdle were gracious and professional and never missed a
beat throughout the entire event.