I would like to extend my congratulations to the six Lake Macquarie High School students who have been elected chosen as its 2024 school leaders. For the first time since 2014, Lake Macquarie High School has extended its leadership team to include two prefects, reflecting the school's growing strength and presence in the community. The 2024

Year 11 students at Toronto High School had their first taste of politics late last year when they engaged in a vigorous election process for the highly coveted positions on the school 2024 leadership team. I would like to congratulate the successful candidates, who are said to embodying the school's motto, Remis Insurgite; Rise to Your Oars.

I would like to recognise the efforts of one of Lake Macquarie's quiet achievers Ken Doolan from Marmong Point. Ken has spent countless hours over the past 14 years developing, managing and maintaining the database for Lake Macquarie U3A, in addition to providing support to Newcastle U3A. U3A or University of the Third Age is a wonderful organisation

It's no secret that New South Wales is in the midst of a trade-skills shortage, so it is heartening to hear one young Lake Macquarie resident is shaping up to be the best in the world at her chosen profession. After obtaining a Diploma of Nursing at Newcastle TAFE, 19-year-old Neave O'Reilly from Fassifern recently won a gold medal at the

I would like to recognise the efforts of Paul Johnson from Killingworth, who for nearly two decades has nurtured and guided teenagers not only through high school, but also the challenging Duke of Edinburgh Awards program. Paul has been a Duke of Edinburgh Awards group co-ordinator for 18 years, making him the longest serving co-ordinator of groups

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 playing cricket for the Dora Creek Worker’s Club’s D2-grade team.

While

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, has been sourcing and collecting donations of unused medical equipment and supplies from hospitals and shipping

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 the Avondale University.

Following many years of hard work by the college's leadership group, Avondale

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 17 when he completed his first full season of driving in the 2018-19 racing calendar.

Just

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 a butcher for 50 years but has spent the past 30 years at Martin's Meats in Walmsley Street.

In