St George Community Awards

Hansard ID: HANSARD-1323879322-137274

Hansard session: Fifty-Eighth Parliament, First Session (58-1)

St George Community Awards

Mr MARK COURE (Oatley) (21:46:05):

Each and every year it is my great privilege to recognise some of the most dedicated and hardworking individuals, business leaders and community organisations within my local area. As many members know, I do that by hosting my annual St George Community Awards. This year was the thirteenth St George Community Awards, and it was a roaring success. Over 300 people attended on the night. My office received countless submissions from local residents, community groups and small businesses. Over 80 winners were chosen for their dedication and service to their community. The award categories included the Individual Volunteer Achievement Award, the Senior Volunteer Achievement Award, the Sharyn Andersen Cullis Environmental Achievement Award, Business Achievement, Community Group Achievement, Multicultural Communities Achievement, Sporting Achievement and Youth Achievement.

The community came out in droves to support their family, friends and colleagues who were receiving awards. I offer a big thankyou to the entire team at Mortdale RSL who were incredibly hospitable. I have always said that our local heroes are our greatest asset. They work tirelessly, often with little to no recognition, to make a difference in the lives of people in our community. From the volunteers who spend countless hours fundraising for community events to the business owners who provide valuable services for locals, every single award recipient plays an important role in making our community great. I truly believe that my local area is the best place to live, work and raise a family, and that is thanks to the work of selfless individuals like our award winners.

The Individual Volunteer Achievement Award recognises outstanding individuals for their efforts. This year 26 individuals were presented with this award, representing organisations like IRT Group, local churches and schools, and local Lions Club organisations and Rotary among others. Sometimes it only takes one person to make change, and individual volunteers are proof of that. Despite often limited resources, they do incredible things for our community. I commend them highly. It was also wonderful to recognise some of our fantastic senior volunteers on the night. They are blessed with a wealth of experience, enabling them to serve the community in ways that many of us would never imagine possible. Take Linda Pritchard, for example. Linda started a sewing group called Knit2gether over 15 years ago. Whilst it started as just six ladies meeting up each week to knit, it has since transformed into an organisation of over 60 locals who meet to knit items for those in need. Knit2gether supports people in my community, like the homeless and disadvantaged, by knitting items like beanies, blankets, scarves and gloves. Senior volunteers like Linda are an inspiration to all of us, showing that we have the power to inspire others to get involved.

The Sharyn Andersen (Cullis) award is also evidence of this fact. Sharyn was a great community environmental hero and a true steward for the environment, volunteering for the Oatley Flora and Fauna Conservation Society for several years. Sadly, she passed away last year. However, I was proud to present an incredibly devoted local environmentalist, Hridaya Shrestha, with an award in remembrance of Sharyn. I thank Hridaya for all the work she does to protect our local environment. It was also a privilege to recognise eight local community organisations and eight local small businesses. The volunteers and members of staff who are involved with those organisations are second to none. They are truly the heartbeat of the St George community. I offer a special congratulations to everyone who received a multicultural communities achievement award. Perhaps I am a bit biased, but I truly believe that our community is incredibly diverse. It is a testament to the multicultural success story of our great State. I cannot forget about our local sporting champions. Our wonderful winners are all committed to community outreach and development programs through sport, which has a long-lasting impact on the lives of many.

Finally, I am pleased that the youth achievement award was also a smashing success this year, with 16 winners, 11 of whom came from the Australian Air League Riverwood squadron. Under the command of Chris Bailey, our wonderful Air League volunteers are dedicated to both community service and personal development. I once again extend my congratulations and best wishes to all the award recipients. The St George Community Awards are truly a highlight of my year and I thank everyone who was involved. I look forward to hosting the awards next year and for many more years to come.