House debates

Monday, 31 August 2020

Statements by Members

Surf Life Saving New South Wales Awards

4:41 pm

Photo of David GillespieDavid Gillespie (Lyne, National Party) Share this | | Hansard source

Stretching the coastline of New South Wales, from Hawks Nest in the south to Lighthouse Beach and below, Lake Cathie    and Bonny Hills, we have surf lifesavers protecting locals and tourists alike. They patrol, they save lives, they administer first aid and educate our children about surf awareness and safety.

On Saturday, Surf Life Saving New South Wales held their state awards, and it's a privilege to recognise in this place the following people from my electorate: Volunteer of the Year Debbie Booth, from the Tea Gardens-Hawks Nest Surf Life Saving Club; Surf Lifesaver of the Year Tony Worton, from the Camden Haven Surf Life Saving Club; and Coach of the Year Steve Monaghan, from Wauchope-Bonny Hills Surf Life Saving Club. Congratulations to all 180 finalists on their outstanding achievements, and a big thank you to all of the people who turn out weekend after weekend, during holidays and peak tourism time, to keep safe our tourism industry, which relies on beaches, surf, sun and sand.

I recently visited Pacific Palms Surf Life Saving Club and they were full of praise for all of their crew members. Jeanette Allen and Michelle Ellis are the first all-women's crew to perform a rescue in the club's history. The IRB crew safely transported two people and their canoe back to land after they had become stuck on a sandbar. I was at Pacific Palms to inspect the work they've done with the funds from the 2020 volunteer grant program. The program— (Time expired)