Ed Husic (Chifley, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Industry and Innovation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's an honour to speak of a Chifley community champion, Ray Sloss. On the weekend, I attended the opening of the Ray Sloss Field at Federation Forest Football Fields at Mt Druitt. Ray was the founding member of the Minchinbury Jets Junior Rugby League Club. In 1994, he pushed to set up a club in Minchinbury and for it to be included in the Penrith junior Rugby League season. He turned his home into the first fundraising location, organised things like an under-11s team to start the campaign to bring in more players. Registrations were first held at the local Maccas, where 108 players formed eight teams, seven going on to seven finals and winning three premierships, and many more members joined, including Barry and Lisa Jones, who still play a vital role in the club. The club itself boasts over 30 teams and more than 500 players, and little of this would have been possible without Ray's determination and dedication.

Sadly, Ray passed away a couple of weeks ago, and I wanted to extend my deepest, sincerest condolences to Ray's wife, Jacqui, and the entire Sloss family. The young players who run onto the Ray Sloss Field should always know they are supported by a legacy—a commitment from a bloke like Ray, who truly believed in their talents and wanted to see those displayed to the wider footy community. I want to end on the famous Ray chant, 'Go the Jets!'