Oatley Electorate Sporting Clubs

Hansard ID: HANSARD-1323879322-108030

Hansard session: Fifty-Seventh Parliament, First Session (57-1)

Oatley Electorate Sporting Clubs

Mr MARK COURE (Oatley) (21:37):

:44 September was a month of sporting presentations, starting with the Connells Point Netball Club presentation evening which I attended recently, at which the club celebrated its recent successful season. The evening was held at Club Central Hurstville. The Connells Point Netball Club has been active within the community for over 60 years and has members between the ages of five and 70 years. The club provides its members with the opportunity to compete at all levels of sport, from beginners to professional competitive levels.

The club has done a fantastic job yet again of being inclusive and welcoming all members of the community. It has a wonderful, diverse membership base. It was great to attend the presentation and commend all those involved in the club for their success. I thank the club's president, Julian Finch—who I went to school with at Marist College Kogarah—as well as the players, parents, coaches, volunteers and guardians for all the work and dedication that is committed to the club each year. I look forward to continuing to support the club in the years ahead. In September—the month of many sport presentations—I had the privilege of attending on the 28th the Lugarno Football Club presentation night at Club Grandviews in Peakhurst. The Lugarno Football Club plays a significant role in the St George Football Association, with 42 female and male teams of all ages and more than 500 registered players.

The club is volunteer run and fosters a deep sense of community spirit and family, accepting all players who abide by the club's values and conduct themselves with a spirit of fairness. This approach allows young players to build their self-esteem and confidence levels because they can compete in a welcoming environment. It was great to attend the presentation night and hear about the fantastic achievements of the players over the past season. It was also great to see family, friends and other supporters gather to congratulate the players and all the volunteers who contribute their time to the club. I thank club president Hagop Tchamkertenian, as well as the executive committee for its efforts.

The next day I attended the Peakhurst United Football Club junior presentation at Peakhurst Park. In a garage in Peakhurst in 1964, Peakhurst United was formed by three St George residents. Since then, the club has grown to form teams across all ages, catering to both male and female players. The club is tirelessly run by volunteers and through community support, providing a fantastic environment for players to thrive. An interesting fact about the club is that it is the lowest recipient of yellow and red cards. I never got any of those cards when I played for Oatley Football Club. That truly demonstrates the club's high regard for sportsmanship. On the night I was pleased to present some awards alongside club president Sharon Whyte to some very deserving players as well as to those who have given longstanding service to the club. I thank Peakhurst United Football Club for its continued excellence in providing sporting opportunities for residents in the St George area. I look forward to supporting Peakhurst United Football Club, Lugarno Football Club and, of course, Connells Point Netball Club next season.