Photo credit: Salty Dingo

Mr ALISTER HENSKENS (Ku-ring-gai—Minister for Skills and Training, and Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology) (16:48): I acknowledge Pymble resident Emily Bartrop, who was selected as a finalist in the 2022 One to Watch Award, a category of the NSW Women of the Year Awards. The award recognises girls and young women who demonstrate acts of courage, strength, determination and kindness to support those around them. When Emily was just five, her sister was born with a congenital heart disease. Emily wanted to raise money to help others like her younger sister, and asked her mother if she could create artwork and run an art exhibition to raise funds for the not‑for‑profit HeartKids. HeartKids supports and advocates for people impacted by childhood heart disease—one of the largest causes of infant death in Australia. It is no surprise her first art exhibition was a success. Since then Emily has continued the yearly exhibition and has raised over $10,000 for HeartKids. I attended the award ceremony in March at the Sydney Opera House and had the privilege to meet Emily and her family. At just 12 years of age, Emily is an inspiring young woman.