Fiona Scott (Lindsay, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise today to also support the member for Forde and his motion about football. In Lindsay, football is truly also becoming the world game. Whether you call it football or soccer, this game has, undeniably, a positive impact on the people of Western Sydney. Western Sydney, in return, has added to the fabric of Australian football and achievements in history.

Mile Jedinak started playing football, the world game, in Werrington, within Lindsay, and went on to play in the 2010 and 2014 FIFA world cups. Another name: Mark Bridge started out at St Marys, and went on to represent Australia at both junior and senior levels in international football. Even Brad Smith, who currently plays for England's powerhouse team, Liverpool FC, was born in Penrith.

But let us not forget the Western Sydney Wanderers. Since this side entered the A-League in 2012, they have become both premiers and champions under the banner of Western Sydney, even playing a few matches in Pepper Stadium at home here in Penrith.

But football is not all about the big names and popular achievements—that only tells a part of the story. Really, football is the grassroots game that so many of our young boys and young girls go out every weekend and play. It is the game that they are practising at night at all of the sporting fields right around the area. To give a clearer indication, the Nepean Football Association has had an increase in players registered between 2014 and 2015 from 11,900 young people to 12,640. That is a phenomenal increase, and it is wonderful to see so many young people participating in this awesome sport.

In Lindsay, young players in this sport are moving up the ranks through the Nepean Development Program. Established only five years ago, it strives to build on the skills and talents of these young players. This program links our young players from club level and, potentially, even one day walking out in the red and black for the Western Sydney Wanderers.

Given increased participation rates, the Nepean Development Program will expand by increasing the use of outdoor venues from three to 10 this year. Young sports stars like Henry Davies or Solomon Monahan-Vaiika commenced their playing careers in the Nepean-Penrith area. Now they have made their mark playing for the Australian Joeys team and are working their way up through the Australian Institute of Sport. According to James Rankine, a football manager and technical director at the Nepean Football Association: 'Our programs are not about making players famous. It is about making young players better people as a whole. They are school holiday clinics giving young people the opportunity to play football over the school break.' With respect to this, I honour and commend the hard work of the coaches, the managers and the assistants, but in particular the mums and dads taking young people to sport every single weekend and to training on week nights. Not only does the Nepean Football Association give players the opportunity to showcase their talents, it also allows them to keep fit, active and healthy.

I would also like to note the power of football to unite a community. I do not believe there is a better example of social cohesion in our community than what you see when you go to Pirtek Stadium and see the diversity of people who will sing for the Wanderers. It is truly the world game and the way that the Western Sydney Wanderers brings people together in my community, I think, is truly fabulous.

I am also the patron for the Australian Bhutanese Youth Festival which hosts Bhutanese interstate soccer tournaments. This is also a wonderful example of the Bhutanese community working within our local area. The community of the Southern Sudanese and other marginalised areas have been working under the leadership of Emmanuel Kondok, who also organises a local football tournament. This is to help integrate people and help people work together. It brings the local Sudanese people together with other football players around the area. I think one of the most phenomenal things about football is how it brings people together.

In closing, I would also like to acknowledge some of the support that we have given locally. We have given $25,500 to Andromeda Oval in Cranebrook, which will also help football in the Cranebrook area. An additional $60,000 from the last election has gone to Grey Gums Reserve where we have resurfaced two ovals and built an awning for the clubhouses. Recently, under the Community Building Partnership grant, a further $13,000 went to the Penrith RSL Soccer Club. Thank you.

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