Carol Berry (Whitlam, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise today to recognise Jarrad Borg, who in January this year was named Shellharbour City Council's Citizen of the Year. Jarrad received this award because he has transformed the landscape of refereeing in the Shellharbour region through his role as President of the South Coast Group 7 Referees Association. Group 7 covers the southern Illawarra and South Coast regions of New South Wales, which includes many areas in my electorate of Whitlam. Jarrad attended Warilla High School, which is in the heart of the Whitlam electorate, and began refereeing when he was just 13 years old.

His commitment to developing junior referees, securing major sponsorships and creating strong pathways has set a new benchmark for excellence. In today's world, it is notoriously hard to attract people to referee in any sport, yet under Jarrad's leadership, the number of referees in group 7 has grown from 80 members in 2022 to 175 in 2025. Last year, he became the youngest life member in the referees association's 100-year history, and he also received the New South Wales Rugby League Referees Association's Denis Braybrook Award for his outstanding contribution to refereeing and culture. I was delighted to meet Jarrad in January when he was named Citizen of the Year at the Shellharbour Community Awards and Australia Day Awards. I congratulate and thank Jarrad for his contribution and the contribution he will continue to make to his community.

I rise today to recognise Tahlia Bonanno, who was recently named Shellharbour City Council's 2026 Young Citizen of the Year. Tahlia received this award because she exemplifies passion and community spirit through her tireless volunteering and leadership. This is not the first time Tahlia has been recognised for her qualities and skills. She was named 2025 Young Rural Ambassador for the Albion Park Show, and in that role she has supported local shows across Albion Park, Kiama, Robertson and Dapto. Recently, it was announced that Tahlia has been selected as the 2026 Young Rural Ambassador for the Robertson Show.

I've met Tahlia on a number of occasions, and she is a remarkable young woman. She plays a key role as vice-president of the Ag Group, known as TAG, inspiring youth involvement in agriculture and local organising committees. Tahlia runs school agriculture programs and has earned multiple awards for poultry showing. She volunteers for Illawarra Convoy, a major fundraising event in our region. Tahlia not only competes at elite levels in karate; she mentors young athletes in that martial art. Tahlia is described by her peers as caring and committed, and a young woman who embodies the values of active citizenship. I congratulate Tahlia for achieving so much at such a young age and for being a wonderful role model for everyone in the community.