Emma McBride (Dobell, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Today is a special day. Joining us is Terrence John Wand OAM. On behalf of my community, and especially my home town of Wyong, it is an honour to welcome Terry and to share some of his remarkable story. Today would not have been possible without the member for Tangney, my friend Ben Morton. Ben and I were a tag team, as two Wyong kids, on this speech.

Terrence John Wand was born in 1941, a descendant of two of Wyong's pioneering families. He married his beautiful wife, Wendy Margaret Whitfield of Lake Macquarie, in 1962, and they had their two children, Trudy and Gavin. Terry often reminisces of his childhood in Wyong and reckons it is still a great place to grow up—and I agree with him. During the 1940s and 1950s, Terry and his mates raided orchards, helping themselves to watermelons, and cooled off in the hot summers in beaut swimming spots. Terry fondly recalls being at Wyong Public School in the post-war years and receiving the first flavoured milk in New South Wales, as the Wyong dairy, in Alison Road, experimented with chocolate and strawberry flavours.

Terry has always been a hard worker and when growing up he had no shortage of casual jobs, his first paper run paying one pound a week—good money in those days. Terry loves sport and often says that sport must not be left out of Wyong's story. Terry, it cannot be left out of the story, and it will not be now that you have been awarded an OAM for your contribution. Terry knows how lucky the whole town is to have had a group of men establish sporting clubs in the early 1900s. Those clubs are now over 100 years old. Terry loves sport—including rugby league. The Wyong Rugby League Club, the Roos, holds a special place in his heart. Terry's playing career lead to a fine coaching career, highlights being winning the New South Wales Rugby League Harold Matthews Cup, in 1980, and coaching many premiership-winning teams. I like his coaching strategy of not wearing you out in the off-season, so keeping you fresh for the main game.

It is arguable, however, that his greatest contribution is as a sports administrator, working with Joe Bishop, Morrie Breen and Mr Vaughan to salvage the club, which was formed in 1910, and make it one of the most successful sports clubs in Australia. Terry's heroic efforts as honorary secretary in endeavouring to gain a certificate of registration and liquor licence and build a clubhouse for, I think, the sum of $68,000, is the stuff of Wyong folklore.

Terry is a life member of both Wyong Rugby League Club Group and the Central Coast Division of Country Rugby League and holds Wyong's No. 1 badge. On behalf of my Uncle John 'Burkie' and your countless friends on the Central Coast, we salute you!

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