Ms SPENCE (Yuroke) — I acknowledge the outstanding efforts of all those involved in the Hume Relay for Life over the weekend. This is the 10th year the Hume Relay for Life has been held, raising over half a million dollars. This year the event relocated to its new venue at Craigieburn Central. Organisers agree that this is a terrific venue which really connected the community to the event.

With 18 teams and over 325 participants, the event provided the Craigieburn community with an opportunity to recognise and celebrate local cancer survivors, patients and their carers, to honour and remember loved ones lost to cancer, and to raise money to help save more lives. And raise money it did. So far, approximately $25 000 has been raised this year, all going towards the research, prevention, information and support services of Cancer Council Victoria.

But the participants did not just raise money; the event was also a celebration of hope. It was terrific to see participants and organisers singing and dancing their way around the track to YMCA, and for the runners to pause for a few minutes while everyone lined up for a dance to Nutbush City Limits. The energy shown by participants was clearly contagious, despite these events coming at the end of an 18-hour overnight relay, during which many had not slept. Suffice it to say coffee sales were high, and the egg and bacon rolls were a real hit.

To the chair of the event, Jason Moore, the entire organising committee and the MC, Brad Guy, well done on a terrific effort.