Local Legends

Local Legends
  • 26th February 2020 I wish to acknowledge Bob Marks and Karl Zalewski who have proven that good things can often come from heartbreaking tragedy.Last November, Simon Marks suffered a fatal heart attack while playingcri... more
  • 25th February 2020 I wish to acknowledge the wonderful work of Coal Point resident Erica Henley and a small group of volunteers behind Operation Hope in Lake Macquarie.Operation Hope, founded by Erica in 2017, hasbeen... more
  • 14th November 2019 Avondale University has been an important and integral part of the Lake Macquarie community for more than 122 years, but I'm very pleased to inform the House that the college is now known as theAv... more
  • 15th October 2019 I wish to acknowledge the efforts of Morisset teenager Jack Callaghan who recently became the youngest ever winner of Newcastle Harness Racing's driver's premiership.Jack was aged just 17whe... more
  • 26th September 2019 I wish to acknowledge a wonderful member of the Dora Creek community who caused quite a stir last week when he hung up his butcher's apron for a life in retirement.Brian Finlay has been abutcher... more
  • 19th September 2019 I wish to acknowledge and congratulate the Dora Creek Swampies who broke a 13-year drought at the weekend and won Newcastle and Hunter Rugby League's A-grade grand final.The Swampies took anarmy... more
  • 18th September 2019 I wish to acknowledge the wonderful community spirit of Lynne Turner from Coal Point.Lynne has been an active member of the Lake Macquarie Garden Club for 16 years and has served several terms onthe... more
  • 8th August 2019 I wish to acknowledge a wonderful young student from Blackalls Park Public School who has shown a great deal of initiative in improving his school and local community.Oliver Croft was in Year 3 when... more
  • 7th August 2019 I‘d like to wish Lake Macquarie resident Enid Webster all the very best when she competes in this Sunday’s City To Surf at the spritely age of 98.This year’s event will beEnid&rsqu... more
  • 25th January 2019 I recently acknowledged the work of Suzanne Pritchard in State Parliament.Suzanne epitomises the wonderful community spirit we enjoy in Lake Macquarie.She has been the President of the Coal PointPro... more
  • 30th October 2018 I wish to acknowledge South Lake Macquarie Amateur Sailing Club for the remarkable work they do in our local community. The club, which sails out of Sunshine on the southern shores of Lake Macquarie,i... more
  • 4th October 2018 This week I had the pleasure of attending the Hunter Mountain Bike Association club base at Awaba to announce a $450,000 Stronger Country Communities Fund grant to expand them... more
  • 19th August 2018 I acknowledge an impressive milestone reached recently by Tony Prior of Fishing Point. For 50 years Tony, a retired pharmacist, has served local communities through the Lions Clubs, showing anunquesti... more
  • 19th August 2018 I acknowledge one of Lake Macquarie's most tireless volunteers and environmental champions. I recently had the honour of presenting Robyn Charlton with a NSW Government Community ServiceAward... more
  • 23rd March 2018 I acknowledge a large and very dedicated team of volunteers within Morisset Lions Club which until last January had operated the Driver Reviver station on the M1 for the past 23 years.Many motorists... more
  • 1st March 2018 I acknowledge the tremendous work being done in the Lake Macquarie area by Mel Hall. The words "colourful character" get thrown around too often these days when they should be reserved forpe... more
  • 1st March 2018 I acknowledge Morisset resident Beryl Mullard, who has done a remarkable job researching, preserving and recording local history. Beryl recently self-published her third work on the Morisset district,... more
  • 1st March 2018 I acknowledge the remarkable challenge being undertaken by Wendy Evans. Wendy, a person with cerebral palsy, is attempting to become the first person with a severe disability to sail soloaro... more
  • 31st October 2017 There are many young people in Lake Macquarie who are doing great things in our community, often unseen and unheralded. The effort of six Year 10 students from Toronto High School who recentlycomplete... more
  • 28th September 2017 The Lake Macquarie community is very proud of its returned service men and women, and none more so than Dave Edmond of Wangi Wangi. The Vietnam veteran was recently awarded life membership of theNatio... more