Simon Kennedy (Cook, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister to the Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Hansard source

I would like to recognise and congratulate an outstanding local Kirrawee High School student Nate Kell on his selection to the Australian under 16s water polo team. To represent your country at any age is an extraordinary achievement, but to do so while still in high school is truly incredible. It's a proud moment for the Cronulla water polo club, as well as our entire community of the Sutherland shire.

I also want to recognise the Cronulla women's water polo team. They won the 2026 Australian women's water polo championship after a 15-12 victory against Sydney University. Dani Jackovich received the MVP of the finals series, along with MVP of the entire competition. The Cronulla women's water polo team is now the best team in the entire country. Congratulations girls!

I would like to congratulate the Wanda Surf Life Saving Club on an extraordinary achievement, securing their first state age championship title in decades. Wanda's young lifesavers have delivered a result the club hasn't celebrated since the early 1990s. There were some standout individual efforts, including in the under 11s. Max Pyper rose to the occasion with dual victories in the ironman and the swim. In the under 9s, Mia Apps produced a remarkable medal haul—three gold and a bronze—marking her as one of the most exciting young competitors in all of New South Wales.

I'd like to recognise a truly remarkable member of our community, Frank Bova. For more than 60 years, Frank has been part of the fabric of Lilli Pilli Football Club, first as a player, then as a coach, then as a mentor and now as a leader. Six decades of service to one club is not just dedication; it's a lifetime commitment to a community, to sport and to the next generation. Frank's contribution has not gone unnoticed. In 2018 he was the recipient of a Cook community award, a fitting recognition of the impact he has had on Cook for many years.

Recently I received an email from Carol, a St Vincent de Paul volunteer for Caringbah. She wrote:

In these ever increasing cost of living times it has become extremely obvious the number of people in your electorate around Caringbah who are in need of help has increased dramatically, and if this increase is not enough we have noticed a lot of people are much younger.

We receive requests for food assistance, one lady pleading she had nothing for school lunches, We have also been asked to supply beds so no more sleeping on the floor with only a blanket, we have supplied washing machines, refrigerators, we have also been asked by a very distressed lady for financial help as she could not afford to bury her father …

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