Osborne Park Progress Association

Hansard ID: HANSARD-1323879322-103117

Hansard session: Fifty-Sixth Parliament, First Session (56-1)

Osborne Park Progress Association

Mr ANTHONY ROBERTS (Lane CoveMinister for Planning, Minister for Housing, and Special Minister of State) (12:49:51):

— I will impart some of the history of a great Lane Cove organisation, the Osborne Park Progress Association, which was formed in 1926. At first it lobbied hard to improve access to the area, which at the time was frustratingly cut off from Lane Cove. Back then association members—all volunteers—worked to provide recreational facilities for local residents, and in so doing successfully built an active, vibrant community. In 1953, the volunteers completed a tennis court. At the time, the tennis shed was a wooden packing case donated by a local resident. The volunteers—along with some newly recruited blood—had the progress hall operational by 1956. The original progress hall is now a kindergarten and a scout hall was added later. Today those facilities are owned by Lane Cove Council, but the Osborne Park Progress Association still manages and maintains the tennis court.

I was pleased last year to announce a grant, made available by the Government through the Community Building Partnership program, to provide for an upgraded home for the tennis club. I acknowledge the additional financial support provided by Lane Cove Council that has allowed the community-run tennis court and clubhouse to be available for permanent bookings. It is located in a leafy, peaceful setting off Richardson Street East, which also has a children's play area and a barbeque. I suspect that Roger Federer would be happy to put down a couple of sets at the Osborne Park court.

As members know only too well, groups such as Osborne Park Progress Association operate because of the dedication and expertise of many people. I pay tribute to President Peter Bennett, Vice-President Rod Tudge, Secretary Ross Noone, Public Officer Peter Hackforth and Treasurer Rodney Geddes. The fantastic tennis court manager is Ralph Bertinetti. Of course, many others—too many to mention now—make a contribution, and I thank them on behalf of a grateful community. The input of members of the association's committee is wideranging. Among other duties, they manage and maintain the tennis court and clubhouse and liaise with the council to ensure that the Osborne Park Recreation Area is maintained. They also work to improve the amenity of the local area. That includes distributing an annual calendar, an information sheet and regular newsletters to more than 350 local homes.

That effort is why I felt privileged to give the Osborne Park Progress group a Community Building Partnership grant. I also pay tribute to the work and commitment of Tennis Court Shed Subcommittee members Lynne Bennett, Lynne Eggleston and Margaret Heathers. The new tennis clubhouse has been described as "frankly fabulous", which is an apt description. Frankly speaking, in the late 1940s many young families built their first home in and moved to Osborne Park. At the time it was an area served by dirty, rough roads and the new settlers had only limited and difficult access to Lane Cove. It was through fundraising, community events, much volunteering and council support that they created the thriving community that Osborne Park is today. As the local member, I know that Osborne Park is a vibrant and dynamic community and an essential part of my electorate. The Osborne Park Progress Association is, and has been since its inception, an amazing bunch of achievers.

Mr MARK COURE (Oatley) (12:53:40):

I congratulate the member for Lane Cove and Minister for Planning on his efforts through the Community Building Partnership program and the Lane Cove Council to fund the much-needed upgrade of the tennis clubhouse at Osborne Park. The local community will benefit from this upgrade of an important local facility. It is wonderful to see yet another project funded by this Government under the Community Building Partnership program. It is also wonderful to see the success of the hard work done by the Osborne Park Progress Association in finally achieving the upgrade.