Matt Thistlethwaite (Kingsford Smith, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I wish to congratulate all of the runners, walkers and wheelers who took part in the Maroubra Fun Run and Oktoberfest on 25 October. This event was first staged in 1996 by the Maroubra Chamber of Commerce, and this year, in its 20th year, it celebrated one of the most successful events. In 1996, a mere 190 people competed in the fun run. This year 1,500 completed the course, and 5,000 people went through the Oktoberfest festival. The event raised $15,000 for local charities, and it was great to see over 300 schoolkids competing and completing both the four-kilometre and eight-kilometre events, with South Coogee Public School taking out the award for the most students in the event. It is a great way to encourage healthy lifestyles amongst students in our local community.

I wish to pay great tribute to Richard and Philip Walsh of Walsh's Village Pharmacy, who for the past 20 years have spearheaded the organisation of this event. Thanks also to the South Maroubra Surf Lifesaving Club, the Maroubra Rotary Club, the Maroubra Lions club—the Souths Juniors have been wonderful sponsors of the events—Randwick SES and, of course, the Maroubra Chamber of Commerce and the Randwick City Council. It is wonderful to have had this event go for 20 years in our community, and may it continue into the future. Congratulations to all those who completed the course, and thanks to all the volunteers who made it possible.