On Saturday 16th November 2019I participated in theVictims of Crime Assistance League Inc. NSW (VOCAL) Christmas Tree of Angels Ceremony at Saint John's Church in Cooks Hill.

Today I tabled a Community Recognition Statement in Parliament about the ceremony. This is what the statement said:



Christmas can be a difficult time for people whose lives have been affected by crime and life tragedies.

Last Saturday I was pleased to be present at a very special ceremony organised by the Victims of Crime Assistance League Inc. NSW (VOCAL).

The ceremony included the lighting of seven candles representing yesterday, today, tomorrow, hope, love and gratitude and peace, and was focused around a Christmas tree on which the families and friends of victims of crime placed angels.

The tree was blessed by Reverend Kimberly Sawyer and soloist Sari Kelana gave a stirring rendition of Angels.

As part of the service, Kylie Farthing (a victim, survivor, thriver, and inspirer) shared her story of survival, and the emotional and legal support she received from VOCAL during a very difficult time in her life.

Current CEO, Kerrie Thompson, spoke about how VOCAL came into being as a homicide support group, until the first CEO, Robyn Cotterell Jones, saw the need to extend VOCAL's support to victims of all types of crime.

I am enormously proud of VOCALs work of supporting and empowering victims of crime and their families in my local community.