Ms JODIE HARRISON (Charlestown)—When a close family friend was diagnosed with Burkitts non-Hodgkin lymphoma, 11-year-old local Edie Hall was inspired to shave her head to raise funds for the Leukaemia Foundation.

She did an outstanding job raising awareness and funds, contributing more than $15,000 in donations to the Foundation. Edie was just 10 years old at the time and for a young woman to do something as radical as shaving her head for a fundraising effort is truly inspiring.

She obviously has an amazing heart and a very clever mind, and in recognition of her achievement, Edie was announced as one of only ten finalists in the "One to Watch" category in this year's NSW Women of the Year Awards.

The One to Watch award recognises girls and young women aged 7-17 who demonstrate acts of courage, strength, determination and kindness, and is supported by the NSW Advocate for Children and Young People. I think we can all agree that Edie has demonstrated truly extraordinary generosity and spirit—and her nomination was very well-deserved. My congratulation to Edie on her work, and my thanks for her efforts. I expect we will see lots more from Edie as she grows.

A Community Recognition Notice is an opportunity for an MP to submit a short statement praising the work of an individual or group in the local community. If you have any ideas about people I can recognise with a Community Recognition Notice, please email and let me know!