Surf Lifesavers, Small Business and Cook Community
TRANSCRIPT
24 July 2025
Mr KENNEDY (Cook): Firstly, in my address-in-reply, I want to congratulate an extraordinary group of individuals who have made exceptional achievements in my community, particularly in surf lifesaving, and who have kept my community safe by patrolling our beautiful Bate Bay. We have four proud and active surf lifesaving clubs in my community: Cronulla, North Cronulla, Elouera and Wanda. All recently held their annual presentation awards. There were a number of individuals honoured.
The Elouera Surf Life Saving Club awarded the Surf Sports Awards, recognising members of this club for their athletic prowess. The under-15s athlete of the year received the Constance and Colin Toll Award; that went to Nate Robertson. The under-17s athlete of the year received the Daile Banning Award; that went to Jake Hughes. The under-19s athlete of the year received the Terry Trevillian Award; that went to Nick Hughes. The open athlete of the year received the Rick Pallister Award; that went to Alex Duggan. The water man of the year received the Robert Chapman Award; that went to Nathan Neale. The water woman of the year received the Sharon Muddle Award; that went to Mikaela Mead. The most outstanding male beach athlete received the Gilchrist Family Award; that went to Peter Thoroughgood. The most outstanding female beach athlete received the other Gilchrist Family Award; that went to Natalie Hay. The most outstanding masters competitor was Robert Humphries.
They next had the boat awards, recognising members who display exceptional skills in manning the club boats. The Most Outstanding Boat Competitor Award went to Jessie O'Mahony. The Most Outstanding Boat Crew Award went to Jessie O'Mahony, Edwina Wright, Gabby Ferris, Terani Inoke and Grant Wilkinson. The Most Improved Boat Crew Award went to Tahlia Ingram, Casey Mood, Caitlin Smith, Isla Lawson, Mia McCarthy and Grant Wilkinson. And the rookie of the year received the Tim Nesbitt Award; that went to Lincoln Rommel.
The club's training awards recognise work undertaken to upskill club members in ensuring beach safety and surf lifesaving. The winner of the Most Outstanding Trainer Award was Rob Van der Sanden. The Most Improved Trainer Award went to Byron Watson.
To the lifesaving awards: the junior lifesaver of the year received the David Chandler Award; that went to Natalie Hay, as the most outstanding junior patrol person of the year. The Patrol Person of the Year Award went to Caitlin Smith. The Rookie Life Saver of the Year Award went to Nicola Dorling. The Most Outstanding IRB Member Award went to Neill Hunt. The Most Improved IRB Member Award went to Khristina Verstraete. The Most Outstanding Under-15 Club Person Award went to Ruby Kelly. The Most Outstanding Under-17 Club Person Award went to Jake Hughes. The Most Outstanding Under-19 Club Person Award went to Angus Jarolimek. The most outstanding club person received the President's Trophy; that was Neill Hunt. The Belinda Emmerson-Franke Encouragement Award went to Tim Grant. The Ted Brooker Memorial Award for most outstanding contribution in club competition and service went to Ruby Kelly. Congratulations to all the winners from Elouera Surf Club.
The Cronulla Surf Life Saving Club is our oldest lifesaving club and one of Australia's oldest and most iconic surf lifesaving clubs, established in 1907. Cronulla awarded Silver Medallion Patrol Awards in advanced surf lifesaving that equipped members with skills and knowledge to confidently manage beach patrol, especially in challenging situations. This year, there were a number of winners, including Bridget Cole, Brandon Leelong, Freddy Obitz and Kim Williams.
There were 100% Award winners. These winners must have been on patrol for the entire season and performed all their rostered patrols as per the roster without any time missed or any changes. This year, the award winners were Alessio Polimeni, Amelie Sanchez, Angelo Palamidis, Annette Tasker, Freddy Obitz, Benjamin Paton, Brian Dalgarno, Bronessa Smith, Catherine Rubbi, Chloe Teuma, Chris Barber, Claire Pierse, Craig Timbrell, Chris Ordenes, David Dalla-Camina, Damien Carlton, Diego Ordenes, George Ordenes, Phillip Hamilton, Jacinta Watson, Janine Paton, Justine Woolveridge, Kenneth Anderson, Kenneth Rosebery, Levi Stateski, Lew Cochrane, Ludovic Catherine, Maddie Stanton, Maj Sibai, Mark Teuma, Nader Saleh, Nick Rubbi, Noah Duchet-Catherine, Olivier Sanchez, Pablo Azurdia Webb, Paul Spratt, Richard Pinker, Robert Short Junior, Rodd Sanchez, Samuel Easton, Saoirse O'Brien, Sascha Stewart, Stewart Rodham, Tahlia Comb, Tiffany Crompton, Kim Williams, Zack Pontey and Zane Watson.
Special recognition goes to Chris Barber for achieving the 100% Award for over 20 years—how outstanding, 100 per cent for 20 years. The Outstanding Patrol Attendance Award went to Anne Crane and Richard Pinker. The winning patrol of the year was captained by Zoe Duchet-Catherine and comprised a number of surf lifesaving members: Alessio Polimeni, Alicia McCullouch, Andrea Fantechi, Angus Griffin, Anna Cox, Bob Sagar, Brent Gaddes, Brooke Edwards, Darryl Easton, Darryl Gaddes, Dylan Ingram, Harrison Clarke, Isabella Ingram, Joanna Panter, Levi Stateski, Ludovic Catherine, Melvyn Guilbert, Niclas Rogulski, Noah Duchet-Catherine, Freddy Obitz, Rebecca Ingram, Samuel Easton, Sascha Stewart, Sophie Guilbert, Titoan Guilbert, Vincent Guilbert and Wojciech Rogulski.
This year, the individuals with the greatest number of points for each sport were Ricky Crompton in the open swim, Paul Cox in the masters swim, Scott Phillips in the vets swim, Chris Ordenes in the open ski and Greg Oldfield in the open board. The Auxiliary Trophy winners were Tiffany Crompton in the opens, Scott Phillips in the vets and Stephen Parkes in the masters. The President's Trophy winners were Daryn Metti in the opens, Rob Walker in the vets and Paul Cox in the masters. The Captain's Trophy winners were Baden Green in the opens, Carolyn Macauley in the vets and Mark Franklin in the masters. The 2025-26 Nipper Leadership Team and winners were the captains, Jackso Swingler and Charlotte Diver-Tuck; the vice-captains, Fletcher Sellick and Madelyn Watts; and the leadership team, Catherine McCulloch and Liana Ellis.
I now turn to the ironperson swim and let champions, who excelled in the swim portion of the overall ironwoman or ironman competition. This year the club recognised Saoirse O'Brien in the under-15 females, Melvin Guilbert in the under-17 males, Amelie Sanchez in the under-17 females, Jay Furniss in the open males, Paul Cox in the over-50 males and Chris Freeman in the under-50 males.
In the surf race, the under-15 male was Dylan Cooper and the under 15 female was Amelia De -Jongh. The under-17 male was Melvin Guilbert, and the under-17 female was Amelie Sanchez. The under-19 male was Brent Gaddes, and the open male was Will Bannister. The open female was Zoe Duchet-Catherine. The under-50 male was Chris Freeman, and the over-50 male was Baden Green. In the belts, the under-17 male was Ethan Maclachlan. The under-19 male was Jake Boyle. The open male was Jack Robinson.
I now turn to this year's board and ski championship winners. The under-15 male board winner was Diego Ordenes. The under-15 female board winner was Saoirse O'Brien. The under-17 male board winner was Chris Ordenes. The under-17 female board winner was Amelie Sanchez. The under-19 male board winner was Brent Gaddes. The open male board winner was Will Bannister. The open female board winner was Zoe Duchet-Catherine. The under-50 male board winner was Chris Freeman, and the over-50 male board winner was Robert Walker. The under-17 male ski winner was Melvin Guilbert. The under-17 female ski winner was Sophie Woodrow. The under-19 male ski winner was Hobbie Smit, the open male ski winner was also Hobbie Smit. The open female ski winner was Zoe Duchet-Catherine. The under-50 male ski winner was Chris Freeman. The over-50 male ski winner was Daryn Metti, and the over-50 female ski winner was Kelly Mountier.
In the beach championships, the open male flags winner was Levi Statevski, and the open female flags winner was Telia Ellis. The under-17 male flags winner was Melvin Guilbert, and the under-17 female flags winner was Sophie Woodrow. The under-19 male flags winner was Hobbie Smit. The under-15 female sprint winner was Saoirse O'Brien. The under-17 female sprint winner was Sophie Woodrow, and the open male sprint winner was Levi Statevski.
The Australian championships is a major national event where surf lifesavers from across Australia compete in a wide range of events. This year's participants were Nikki Jones in the over-35 sprint and over-35 flags, Jon Lavers in the over-70 boardriding longboard and over-70 boardriding shortboard.
There was also another set of special awards that I would like to draw attention to. The Masters Competitor of the Year was David Brukmann. The Ken Brown Award went to Zara Lammers. The Nick Dixon Memorial Boatman's Trophy went to Declan Bourke. The Outstanding Contribution to IRB Section went to Greg Oldfield. The Outstanding Official went to Carlo Villanti. The Bill Marshal OAM Memorial Award for the patrol person of the year went to Lachlan Waring from patrol 2. The Tony Purcell Memorial Award went to Jack Robinson. The Instructors Award went to Rodd Sanchez.
The junior club person for the under-15 males went to Diego Ordenes and the junior club person for the under-15 females went to Amelia De Jongh. The junior club person for the under-17 males went to Melvin Guilbert. The junior club person for the under-17 females went to Sophie Woodrow. The junior club person for the under-19 males went to Hobbie Smit. The junior club person for the under-19 females went to Joanna Panter. The Most Improved Member went to Thomas Woodrow.
The Ken English Patron Emeritus Award for efforts in instruction and/or training of club members went to Rodd Sanchez, and the Luke and Jack Gibson Memorial Award for most inspirational member went to Chris Barber. The Barry Ezzy OAM Patron Emeritus Award for fundraising or innovation went to Ken Rosebery. The Geoffrey Forshaw OAM Patron Emeritus Memorial Award for efforts in enhancing the reputation of the club went to Anna Crane and John Tangohau.
To all of this year's recipients: your contribution to the safety, the sport and our community of Cook is deeply appreciated. You make Cook proud.
I also want to celebrate the Southern Sydney Business Awards in my local community. Small business is the backbone of our country and our economy. Small and medium-sized businesses make up nearly 70 per cent of employment and almost 98 per cent of businesses, and while small business hires, large business fires. Small and medium-sized businesses that grew made up 100 per cent of net job growth in the Australian economy. Not only are they the backbone of the Australian economy; they're the backbone of my local community in Cook. This year's winners in Cook were, for excellence in large business, Geoff Bannister from Betty's Burgers, Miranda, and, for the most outstanding community organisation, Karen Johnston from BFF 4 Change. The outstanding new business award went to Esther Goh from Marketing Jar, and the outstanding visitor experience business award went to Jim Winchester from Quest Woolooware Bay.
We also had the Local Business Awards, which celebrated more outstanding achievements from these vital small businesses in my local community of Cook. Again, they make up the backbone of Australia, the backbone of Cook, and the backbone of employment. This year's winner from Cook in the automotive services category went to Stephen Melton from Southern Sydney Mechanical. The best bakery/cake business award went to Bastian Gab from Miranda. The best beauty services award went to Wafaa Karim from Cronulla Skin Sanctuary. The best brows and lashes beauty services award went to Lauren Conway from Lauren Elyse & Co, Sutherland Shire. The best cafe award went to Zee Cheikho from Dolce Aroma. The best community services award went to Dani Christie from the Family Co. The best delicatessen/gourmet food award went to Michael Haddad from Nina's Chocolates—a beautiful place, which has an outlet just near where I live, in Gymea Bay.
The best early childhood centre award went to Carissa Blizard from Antara on Wyralla Childcare and Preschool. The best education service award went to Lindsay Smith from Excite Safety. The best fashion award went to Melissa Bennetts from Bay Road Clothes. The best food/takeaway award went to Abdul Chowdhury from Chargrill Chicky. The best fitness services award went to Sophia Chantharawiphak from SPC Muay Thai Gym. The best florist award went to Stephanie Jordan from Nunu Designs. The best fresh food award went to Christina Basile from Panetta Mercato Kirrawee in South Village. The best hairdresser award went to Joanne Beards from Karizma Hair Kreations in the Civic Arcade. The best health improvement services award went to Rachel Dorman from shire hearing and implant centres. The best holiday and travel award went to Susie Potter from the Africa Safari Co in Sutherland. The best jewellery store award went to Julie Heta from Prouds the Jewellers in Sylvania Southgate Shopping Centre. The most inclusive employer award went to Mike Parker from Commercial Freight and Logistics. The best performing arts award went to Zoe Karatzovalis from Infinite Abilities Performing Arts. The best pet care award went to Jacqueline Bell from Cronulla Veterinary Clinic. The best pharmacy award went to Ramy Hanna from TerryWhite Chemmart Caringbah. The best plumbing services award went to Jeremy Atoui from Jeremy's Plumbing Meats at Southgate—a great business and a great entrepreneur as well.
The best professional medical services award went to Sarah Anis from Spectrum Medical Imaging Miranda. The best professional services award went to Jodie Jamieson from Gibson Howlin Lawyers. The best real estate agency award went to Peter Green from Laing+Simmons in Miranda. The best family restaurant award went to John Hatzikiriakos from the New Chambers Restaurant. The best services and trade award went to Ivana Josic from Boyan Built. The best sole operator award went to Andrew Woodward from the Investors Way. The best specialised business award went to Ben Browning from 1800 Projects. The best specialist retail business award went to Tracey Morrison from Crockers Paint and Wallpaper. The best businessperson of the year award went to Tahlia Carlyle from Tahlia Carlyle Empowered Living Care. The youth award went to Kyra Holloway from Kyra Holloway, Antara on Wryalla Childcare and Preschool. The best business of the year award went to Jodie Jamieson from Gibson Howlin Lawyers, and the Sutherland Shire access and inclusion winner was Jasmin Moffitt from Dust Devilz.
I'd also like to acknowledge a tragic accident. My condolences and prayers go out to the boys and families involved in the tragic jet ski accident on Tuesday evening on the Georges River in Sylvania. Tragically, this accident claimed the life of 15-year-old Mitchell Irvine and left his friend, 14-year-old Noah Watkins, seriously injured. Mitchell's loss and Noah's injuries have devastated my local community and serve as a heartbreaking reminder of how fragile life is. To Mitchell's family: we mourn with you—me and the rest of our beautiful community in Cook. To Noah and your family: our thoughts and prayers are with you for a speedy recovery. I would also like to pay special tribute to police officer Jesse Hockey and paramedic Scott McNamara, who showed extraordinary courage diving into the cold, deep, dark, murky water to help Noah and save his life. Their bravery reflects the best of our emergency services and reflects the community spirit and bravery that all of our community in the seat of Cook exhibits.