The word "inspirational" is bandied about a great deal these days, but in the case of my constituent, Dennis Perry, it is entirely appropriate. Dennis is the co-founder and president of an Australian charity, Operation Food for Life, which provides physical, emotional and spiritual support to Australasia's poorest and poverty-stricken communities.
Two weeks ago I was greatly inspired by my meeting with Dennis after he told me about his phenomenal charity efforts in reaching out to desperate and often-forgotten people of our region who are stuck in the vicious poverty cycle. Through his charity organisation, Dennis has been able to offer hope to thousands of people, ranging from feeding and clothing homeless men and women on the streets of Honolulu to visiting prisoners offering spiritual support and meals on special occasions.
Dennis does not seek the limelight, nor shout out his many achievements. However, he is a remarkable man with a big heart who has made a significant and life-changing contribution to our international community. Dennis lives by his own motto, "Aspire to inspire before I expire". It is an impressive way to approach life and I can see in his charity efforts he is succeeding by giving countless people renewed hope and dignity beyond their tragic circumstances. Having retired from his high-profile marketing position with Sanitarium only six years ago, Dennis set about spending his retirement by giving back to the community. In the past he has overcome major personal health problems of his own and, in his own words, turned those life obstacles into opportunities.
At 66 years of age, Dennis has many years ahead of him to build on his impressive charity efforts. Some of the Operation Food for Life's programs include helping to feed and clothe hundreds of families who live in tragic circumstances on rubbish dumps in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, feeding and offering spiritual assistance to HIV-AIDS victims in Port Moresby general hospitals, and helping to establish the Rob and Jan Patterson Literacy School in Port Moresby to educate disadvantaged children. I have seen personally the impact that Dennis Perry has had on transforming lives in Port Moresby. I was delighted to receive a copy of his book, which details his experiences in Port Moresby. He is truly making a difference. It reminds me of the remarkable words from the Scriptures, "... I was hungry and you fed me. I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink." This man, Dennis Perry, truly is living that parable, which is just remarkable.
Plans are underway to also expand into poverty-stricken Cambodia and to assist thousands of landmine victims and poor desperate people who live in some of the worst city slums in all of Asia. I commend Dennis and his colleagues for setting up the Operation Food for Life charity, which is run entirely by volunteers who work tirelessly to gather clothes and donations. One of those volunteers is another local resident of mine in Galston named Kelly Gerrard. After reading about Operation Food for Life in the Berowra Bush Telegraph, Kelly decided to reach out to Dennis and volunteer her time to contribute to this worthwhile cause. Kelly, who works as an occupational therapy manager at Mount Wilga Private Hospital, kindly donated her time in June to help children living on a rubbish dump in Port Moresby.
The eight-day charity visit helped to feed and clothe 100 families on the rubbish dump and provide much-needed medical aid. Many of the children had never previously worn clothes and are in desperate need of help. I applaud and acknowledge the charitable actions of Kelly, Dennis and Operation Food for Life for helping to make a difference and for offering help to those who most need it. Living in Australia, it is often easy to forget how fortunate we are and how many opportunities we have in life. However, for many this is not the case. Families born into poverty often struggle to break free from that vicious cycle. I believe education and further aid funding are the best avenues for our Australian Government to help our international neighbours. I also acknowledge the Hon. Philip Ruddock, who is the Federal member for Berowra, for his work in supporting Operation Food for Life as Australia's official patron. Mr Ruddock has seen firsthand some of the worst-affected people experiencing poverty in South-East Asia through his capacity as a former immigration Minister.
As a close friend and neighbouring member of Parliament, I know that tackling poverty is an issue close to Mr Ruddock's heart. I know he will lobby the Government to further assist valuable charitable organisations like Operation Food for Life in the future. I have drawn to the attention of the House some examples of extreme poverty and the worst living conditions in the world that bring out what is best in the world. I have seen up close and personal not only the best in my community, but in Australia; that is, the work of Dennis Perry. He is a man who selflessly gives his own time and energy to make a difference to the lives of very vulnerable people. He does that without asking for anything in return. Tonight I ask the House to applaud this remarkable individual and great Australian and encourage him to continue to do God's work and to make a difference throughout the world.
