David Batt (Hinkler, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Last week, I had the privilege of personally presenting 17 sporting champions from Hinkler with certificates of recognition for their amazing efforts across a wide range of sports, including Lincoln Davis from Hervey Bay, who represented Australia in Muay Thai. These school-age stars represented our region in sports such as basketball, touch football, squash, golf, rugby league, BMX and many more. These local sporting champions have received much-needed financial support to attend state, national and even international championships, and I'd like to take this opportunity to congratulate them all.

You can't get any better than the best in the world. Hinkler is celebrating Hervey Bay's Matthew Hauser becoming the World Triathlon Championship Series 2025 world champion. Only a few days prior to the big race in Wollongong, at my mobile office, I caught up with Matt's very proud grandfather, Syd Dart, in beautiful Burrum Heads. Syd is a well known local and, of course, one of Matty's biggest supporters. The raw emotion as Matt crossed the finish line to secure the world title was something to behold. Matt is the first Aussie since Emma Moffat in 2010 to win a WTCS title. Congratulations to Matt, his family, friends and support team for doing Hervey Bay and Hinkler proud.

Not all Hinkler champions come from the sporting field or the track. Estelle Shaw is a hero who wears fluoro. For 30 years, Estelle has kept children safe crossing the road to and from school. A school crossing supervisor, Estelle—affectionately known, of course, as 'the lollipop lady'—has, for nine years at Branyan school and 21 years at Avoca school, served with care and compassion. It's people like Estelle who form the fabric of our community. It was great to be visiting Avoca State School as Estelle was recognised for her work, which I hope continues for many more years to come.

I'd like to congratulate Senior Constable Brittany Duncan, a valued member of the Queensland Police Service Wide Bay Burnett district, who recently received the Neighbourhood Watch Australasia Police Commissioner's Award. Senior Constable Duncan is a well-known representative of the police service in my community of Hinkler. This award recognises someone from the police force who has demonstrated exceptional commitment to Neighbourhood Watch Australasia by building strong partnerships between police and the community. A district crime-prevention coordinator for Bundaberg district, Brit has been a Neighbourhood Watch liaison officer for over five years. She is widely respected for her dedication and for supporting key community programs, including Youth in Touch, which uses touch football to divert young people from crime; Rise Up, Be Yourself, a domestic violence support program, known as RUBY; and ThinkUKnow, which promotes online safety. I'd like to commend Brit's dedication and professionalism and thank her for making our community a safer place.