David Batt (Hinkler, Liberal National Party) Share this | Hansard source

I have a good news story for the town of Childers in the heart of my electorate: the Isis RSL sub-branch is now the proud custodian of a HMAS Childers shield or crest, as it's known. The shield was originally presented to HMAS Childers upon commissioning way back in July 2007. In December, the Navy formally farewelled the Armidale-class patrol boats, including HMAS Childers, in a solemn decommissioning ceremony at HMAS Coonawarra in Darwin. Since the middle of last year, I've been working alongside the Childers Chamber of Commerce and the Isis RSL sub-branch in a bid to acquire items from the ship and bring some history home to the red soils of Childers.

During decommissioning, a crew member from HMAS Childers obtained the shield, and, off his own bat, he had it restored, painted and personally delivered to the Isis RSL sub-branch. I'm very keen to see more items of memorabilia be considered for long-term loan to the Isis RSL subbranch. It would be fitting for our Childers community to honour the connection and legacy of HMAS Childers. Late last year, during a visit to Larrakeyah defence precinct and HMAS Coonawarra in Darwin as a member of the Defence subcommittee of the Joint Standing Committee of Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade, I saw the HMAS Childers in dock. I had the fortune to speak with the commanding officer of HMAS Coonawarra about the boat's link to the electorate of Hinkler. It's wonderful to see the shield find a home in Childers, and I hope more items from the ship make their way to the town.

I want to acknowledge the 35th birthday of the Zonta Club of Hervey Bay. It was great to attend the celebrations—along with the member for Hervey Bay, David Lee; the Fraser Coast mayor, George Seymour; and three councillors—and to hear about the history of Zonta Club, which was chartered in December 1990. In the 3½ decades since then, hard-working members, past and present, have been helping to build a better world for women and girls. Our community is richer and our future is brighter thanks to the organisations like the Zonta Club of Hervey Bay. Congratulations and happy birthday, ladies!

Many children have a dream of wearing a baggy green cap. And for Bundaberg cricketer Lucy Hamilton the dream is one step closer. She has recently been named in the Australian test squad at just 19 years of age. At such a young age, Lucy has already had success with Brisbane Heat, Queensland and more recently the Delhi Capitals at the prestigious WPL in India. The Aussies take on India in Perth next month. I can only imagine how proud Lucy's parents, Stephen and Claire, and all the members of the Hamilton and Melville clans are, as well as her many friends. Congratulations, Lucy. From all of Hinkler: we wish you well for the upcoming series and indeed a long cricket career ahead.

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