Mr MATT KEAN (Hornsby—Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation) (19:34): In the Hornsby shire we have a number of outstanding sporting clubs and tonight I am proud to speak about one of my favourites—Northern Districts Little Athletics. For 36 seasons the Northern Districts Little Athletics club has been providing a place for kids to compete in a range of athletics competitions from long jump to cross-country. All athletic endeavours are pursued at the Northern Districts Little Athletics club. While there is emphasis placed on technique, the club values having fun most of all. The sense of community is strong at Northern Districts Little Athletics club. Parents get to Foxglove Oval bright and early to set up equipment and get ready for the session. I am always impressed when I visit the club to see a huge number of parents pitching in and making every session a success. I take this opportunity to thank all the parents who currently volunteer and those who have volunteered in the past to make this club the wonderful place we know and love today.
The 2017-18 season has seen great success for the Northern District Little Athletics. They have had 20 representatives compete in the Little Athletics NSW State Championships earlier this year. Jasmin and Isabelle Guthrie, Annabelle Rogers and Ethan Oliver all received medals. A special mention goes to Isabella Guthrie who set a new State and national record for the under-15 300-metre hurdles and Ethan Oliver, who was selected in the under-13 New South Wales Team to compete in the Australian Little Athletics Championship. Isabelle and Jasmin are rising stars; you will be seeing them in the future. They have been chosen for the New South Wales under-16 target talent program. Along with Annabelle, they also competed in the Australian Junior Athletics Championships this year. This was not the first year the club has been able to set a national record. It currently holds four national records.
Along with Isabella's record set this year, Belinda Scott set the record for the under-14 long jump in 1991. Also in 1991, Stephanie Parker set the national record for the under-15 90-metre hurdles. Alysha Burnett—who is known to many as she recently competed in the Commonwealth Games—holds the under-15 javelin record, which she set back in 2012. She is an outstanding talent. The Burnett family has given so much to our community, particularly athletics. The club also holds the State record in 17 events. This is a phenomenal achievement and something of which the Hornsby community can be very proud.
The club has also had a number attend the Australian Little Athletics Championships—Stephanie Parker in 1996, Katrina Moyes in 1998, Eric-Ken Watanabe in 2004, Elliot Lang in 2006, Alysha Burnett in 2009 and again in 2011, Keo Weekes in 2013, followed by Samuel Park and Oscar Enasio in 2015 and then Ethan Oliver recently in 2017. I also mention Rohan Bright, who competed in the Commonwealth Games for para swimming but also competes in athletics, who is also a member of this great club. All of these amazing athletes could not have been able to get their start without the little athletics club and the support of the volunteers who run the club. Each week the club needs parents to run each event, set up and run the canteen, and a long list of jobs each week, which are filled by wonderful volunteers. On top of that, the hardworking committee is able to keep the club a success year in, year out.
The club has been headed up by a great man, Stuart Guthrie, for a number of years. He does a phenomenal job and I am proud to call him a mate. He has been supported by secretary Carla Todd, treasurer Janelle Oliver, registrar Gail Silver, and heading up the track and field is Matt Gleeson. Stuart has recently stepped down from the presidency. I take this opportunity to put on public record my appreciation for his many years of public service. He has given so much to the club, as has the whole Guthrie family. They are phenomenal people and we wish them all the best in their future endeavours. I am sure they will be staying involved with the club. I also wish Matt Gleeson the best of luck as he takes over the presidency. I know he will do a phenomenal job and if there is any support that I can give him, I would love to be involved. Making up the hardworking committee are Adam Harding, Gail Silver, Martin Smellie, Jacki Simpkins, Andrew Gill, Heather Shepherd, Chriss Roberts, Prudence Silver, Abby West, Troy McMullen, Leanne Johnson, Michelle Garde and Katherine Ashley. I thank them for all the time and effort that they give to the community.
To be recognised as a life member of any club is a huge honour and Northern District Little Athletics club has three important volunteers who have gone above and beyond—Cheryl Burnett, Wayne Bingham and Michael Halmy are all life members and have given countless years of service to the club. Thank you Cheryl, Wayne and Michael for your dedication to this wonderful community organisation. Earlier this year I was pleased to assist the club with a grant of $62,812 to help rip up and re-surface its tartan long-jump runway. This will allow it to have three lanes and a much safer surface for the kids to compete. I know the work has been completed and will be ready for the season start later this year. Thank you to the Northern District Little Athletics club for contributing to our community and helping to ensure there is a place for the next generation of Australian athletes.
