Julian Leeser (Berowra, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Hansard source

As Australians tune into the Paralympics this year, many will recognise one of the voices guiding them through the action, Ellie Cole. Ellie is far more than just a competitor; she's one of Australia's greats of sport. Across an extraordinary career spanning four Paralympics, Ellie amassed an incredible 17 medals in the pool. She is the most decorated Australian female Paralympian of all time and one of Australia's greatest competitors. Today, Ellie Cole is not just a celebrated athlete but a valued member of our community.

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Today Ellie Cole is not just a celebrated athlete. She is a valued member of our community, choosing the Berowra electorate to live in towards the end of her Paralympic career and to now raise her family in. She's a vital part of our community. Ellie's story is well known and deeply inspiring. As a young child she faced a life-changing experience, losing her legs to cancer, and part of her rehabilitation she took up swimming which soon became not just therapy but a passion. What followed were years of discipline, sacrifice and determination culminating in 17 Paralympic medals and the honour of carrying the Australian flag at the Tokyo 2020 closing ceremony.

Ellie's talents and leadership extend far beyond the pool. She's also played wheelchair basketball at the national level, and is now a prominent disability advocate and television commentator with roles including television host and commentator for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and now the Winter Olympics. Ellie's many accomplishments include authoring a children's book, Felix and His Fantastic Friends, which encourages young readers to embrace inclusion and celebrate diverse abilities. Ellie was also recognised with an AM in 2024 for her service to sport and her advocacy for inclusion.

In the Berowra community we honour our heroes so that they might inspire the next generation. That's why I recently launched a petition to rename the Hornsby Aquatic and Leisure Centre in honour of Ellie Cole. The proposal is more than simply naming a building; it's about acknowledging excellence, character and contribution. It's an opportunity to pay tribute to one of Australia's most decorated athletes and one of its most influential Paralympians.

The Hornsby Aquatic and Leisure Centre is used every week by young, aspiring swimmers. It's a place where swimmers dream. It's where they build lifelong skills. It's home to both the Berowra and the Hornsby swim clubs, where the next generation of swimmers are learning their craft. When I speak with the coaches, with the parents and with the young athletes, they tell me the same thing: Ellie Cole inspires them. She shows what's possible with hard work, discipline and resilience.

Renaming the facility would not only celebrate her extraordinary achievements but embed her example into the everyday life of our community. Her story would inspire the next generation of young swimmers walking through those doors, who, for many years, would be reminded that greatness can begin right here in the Berowra electorate. So today I encourage everyone across the electorate to sign my petition, to get involved in the campaign, to honour not only a remarkable Paralympian but a remarkable Australian and an inspiration to people not just in the Berowra community but throughout the whole country—Ellie Cole.

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