Mr MATT KEAN (Hornsby) [5.51 p.m.]: It always delights me to recognise residents in my local community who achieve great feats on the world stage, and tonight is no different. In July this year Cowan mother and daughter, Kirry and Briar Toose, of the Hawkesbury River Dragons teamed up with the Newcastle Dragon Hunters to compete in the Long Beach Dragon Boat Festival in California.
The member for Newcastle was in the Chamber earlier. I am sure that he is proud of the Newcastle Dragon Hunters. I am particularly proud of the Hawkesbury River Dragons and the work they are doing in the community. The efforts of Kirry and Briar resulted in their winning a silver medal in the masters' class of the dragon boat festival in California. This remarkable achievement deserves recognition; hence, I have raised it tonight.
As founding members of the Hawkesbury River Dragons in 2011, Kirry and Briar have developed and grown both the club and the sport in the local community for the betterment of all residents. The club has added to the community's character, enabling residents of all backgrounds to get fit, meet new people and, most importantly, have fun. In just 18 months Kirry and Briar have gone from beginners to international stars. I am sure that Kirry and Briar will reflect on the hours of pain and hard work they endured in preparing for the festival as a meaningful and positive chapter in their lives. They exceeded their personal expectations and have given others hope and optimism. In the words of Kirry, "Dragon boating is a sport that is non-ageist, non-sexist and you don't have to look good in a leotard." That sounds like the sport for me.
It is this positive attitude that has provided Kirry and Briar with the determination and energy to succeed at the international level. Kirry and Briar's achievement serves as an inspiration to both my local community and society as a whole. No doubt the member for Riverstone shares my appreciation of their achievement. The Dragons train on the Hawkesbury River, which is one of the most beautiful waterways in Sydney. This beautiful marine playground not only provides a great source of fun and recreation for thousands of my residents but also is home to many businesses and animals that make the area so special. I know my predecessor, Judy Hopwood, has been training with the Dragons for some time, and as we start coming into the warmer months I encourage other residents to visit the Hawkesbury and make the most of this natural wonderland.
Recently I had the privilege of launching the Experience magazine produced by Hills, Hawkesbury and Riverlands Tourism. The aim of the magazine is to talk to locals about what we have in our backyard so that they can share the information with visiting friends and relatives. A recent study has shown that friends and families of locals make up 57 per cent of our total visitation. Our locals are a key source of new visitors and play an important role in promoting our local economy. The magazine will be produced seasonally and will also be available online on the website www.hhart.com.au. The magazine serves as an important tool in marketing the Hawkesbury tourism industry and promoting our beautiful region.
I congratulate and thank all those who have been involved in producing the Experience magazine. In particular, I thank The Hills Shire Council and Hawkesbury City Council. I also thank Lori Modde, Chief Executive Officer of the Hills, Hawkesbury and Riverlands Tourism, for her efforts. Lori has been a passionate advocate for the region and we are all grateful for her significant contribution. Diana Paton from Adelphi Print and Design has compiled a first-class publication. I acknowledge the wonderful work she has done in pulling this publication together. I also thank all those people who have got behind this initiative, including the advertisers, businesses and members of the Hills, Hawkesbury and Riverlands Tourism group. I invite those members who have not visited the Hawkesbury River and the Hawkesbury region to do so. As we come into the summer months it is a particularly beautiful part of Sydney and a remarkable part of Australia.
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