Kevin Hogan (Page, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This week the Gold Coast is hosting the 2018 International Triathlon Union World Triathlon Grand Final. Two triathletes from the Northern Beaches who train with the Coffs Harbour Triathlon Club and 13 triathletes from the Clarence Valley have qualified to compete in the grand final after qualifying in their respective age groups. In order to qualify, each of them had to gain points by competing in various events around Australia over the last 12 months. Each result gained them points, with the top 20 from each age division qualifying for the Australian team.

Darren Adams, who has qualified, also trains nine of the triathletes at Swift Multisport in Yamba. Darren puts his success down to fun and enjoying hard work. Most of the competitors he trains would put in between 10 and15 hours a week spread over six days.

The grand final event is currently underway on the Gold Coast, with approximately 5,000 triathletes competing from 45 nations. I would like to wish Isaiah Koopmans from Woolgoolga and Michael Ylinen from Moonee Beach all the best. Also, good luck to the 13 Clarence Valley triathletes: Darren Adams, Alison Brown, Demi Gavin, Veronica Barker, Khali Seymour, Jason Culton, David Lovell, David Fleming, Brendan Wall, Kim Elvery, Brian Elvery, Ray Hunt and Tara Lennon. I wish them all the very best in their triathlons.

Callum Robson is a 17-year-old surfer in my electorate who is about to make huge waves on the international scene. He will be representing Australia in the International Surfing Association World Surfing Games in Japan this week. One of only six Australian surfers chosen for the team, Callum was selected after great performances in the pro junior division in the World Surf League. He is currently second in the rankings, having already qualified for the world junior championships later this year.

Callum is putting his carpentry apprenticeship on hold in a bid to make the professional surfing tour. The Japanese event will hopefully be a stepping stone for Callum, with Surfing Australia hoping to build a team to go to the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2020. Callum trains at the Surfing Australia High Performance Centre at Casuarina, south of Tweed Heads. His surfing career developed in Evans Head with local group Halftide Boardriders. He proudly has the backing of mum, Judy, dad, Mike, and his two sisters, Sara and Jacquelin. We wish him all the best in Japan.