Pat Conroy (Charlton, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I take this opportunity to acknowledge and pay tribute to the fine young athletes who last week were presented with the Local Sporting Champions Awards for the electorate of Charlton. I extend my sincere congratulations to Leanne Grevenitz, Nakita Jackson Bellah Pipe, Carsten Chapman, Thomas Holland, Alannah Dodd, Kaitlyn Dodd, Noah Abell, Sian Pickard and Dylan Grogan, as well as to the Westlakes District Netball Association.

The Charlton sporting champions have excelled in cycling, baseball, hockey, tenpin bowling and netball. Many have represented at a state and national level in their chosen sports. The Charlton sporting champions are an impressive group of confident and engaging young people, are fine ambassadors for their sports and are a credit to their families, friends and school communities. I am sure I will see many of them on the back page of the paper in years to come.

I would also like to acknowledge the parents, guardians and families of the sporting champions for their ongoing support and encouragement. It is really the families who make the sacrifices that allow young sporting champion s to excel. Often their family holidays are trips to country sporting carnivals. Going to swimming training at six in the morning or after school dominates their lives and their family budget. It is worth remarking on this in the context of budget that really attacks families. There will be a question whether these families can be involved in these sports in future. Congratulations to all the local sporting champions and good luck in the future.