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Katrina Hayler

Hansard ID: HANSARD-1323879322-115933

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


Katrina Hayler

Mr MARK COURE (Oatley)

—Speaker, I am proud to acknowledge the achievement of an inspiring young woman from St Georges High School who last year won the under-18 category of the 2020 RD Walshe Memorial Writing Competition. The competition is run by the Sutherland Shire Environmental Centre and Katrina won the Environmental Prize for her moving speech on the topic "I am Earth". From a young age her parents Antonio and Peter Hayler were always encouraging her to 'think about and respect the environment'. This is where she developed her love for bushwalking and observing the natural environment. Every day she walks her two dogs in the abundant bushland that surrounds her Lugarno home. The national writing competition honours the founder of the Sutherland Shire Environmental Centre, Mr Bob Walshe, who unfortunately passed away in 2018. The judges were touched by Katrina's 'poetic story' on the importance of environmental conservation and I am delighted to note that there were over 80 entries to the competition. Well done Katrina, I wish you all the best and I hope you continue your passion for writing and the environment in the future.