Louise Miller-Frost (Boothby, Australian Labor Party) | Hansard source

Last weekend, Surf Life Saving SA hosted its annual excellence awards. Big congratulations to the Brighton and Glenelg surf life-saving clubs in my electorate of Boothby, who did our community proud. Congratulations to Bobby Tanner, from the Brighton Surf Life Saving Club, for winning Surf Lifesaver of the Year. Bobby receives the award for his extensive leadership, expertise and training, and his outstanding service to club patrols and the emergency operations group. Bob is to be doubly congratulated because he's recently achieved the milestone of 4,000 patrol hours—a testament to his service and commitment to our local community.

I also congratulate Lachlan Larven, from the Glenelg Surf Life Saving Club, for winning the John Baker Young Surf Lifesaver of the Year. Lachlan is 19 years old and has contributed to the life and operations of the Glenelg club through leadership, mentoring and lifesaving.

Congratulations also to Hannah Deacon, from the Glenelg Surf Life Saving Club, for winning Athlete of the Year. Hannah has participated in both state and national surf sport events, winning five gold medals at state championships—iron, board, swim, surf belt race and board rescue—and she's an invaluable member of the SA Reds, with whom she's competed nationally in the Super Surf Teams League and the interstate championships. These two clubs also saw two of their members inducted into the Hall of Fame—Glenelg's Leigh Bowbridge, for sport, and Brighton's Richard Crowe, for leadership.

I am lucky enough to have four surf life-saving clubs in my electorate. As well as Glenelg and Brighton, I give a shout-out to the Somerton Surf Life Saving Club and the Seacliff Surf Life Saving Club. All four of these clubs, and surf lifesaving across SA, have had a really tough year with the algal bloom, but their commitment to ensuring our community remains safe never wavered. The federal and state government funded them to do additional patrols throughout summer and to be a point of factual information and advice to beachgoers. It's important to remember that, as well as being a local community sporting club providing connection and belonging to its members, this is a volunteer based emergency service. They train all year round to keep their skills up, and they volunteer their time to patrol our beaches in summer and keep our community safe. I also recognise all the volunteers behind the scenes—coaches, team managers, the board and management committee, and much more.

To ensure this work can continue from strength to strength, the Albanese Labor government has pledged half a million dollars to each of these four surf life-saving clubs to improve their community and sporting infrastructure and facilities. It's important that they have the best equipment and facilities to keep them safe while they are keeping the rest of us safe.

I once again congratulate the winners, the Brighton and Glenelg surf life-saving clubs, on their exceptional achievements. Their communities should be enormously proud.

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