SAILABILITY SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Dr CLOSE (Port Adelaide) (15:22): This past weekend I had the absolute pleasure of opening the Sailability South Australian Championships at the Port Adelaide Sailing Club and, the next day, giving out medals to participants alongside club patron, Colin Adams. As a relatively new member of parliament, people often ask me how I find the job, and there is frequently a quizzical look in their eye which suggests that this might be a funny profession to have taken up. I can honestly say that most of this job is a pleasure and a privilege, and attending the Sailability championship is a perfect example.

I think Sailability SA President, John Johnston, past Commodore of the Port Adelaide Sailing Club, hardly slept with last week. Along with his hardworking team, he delivered a brilliant championship event. I particularly pay tribute to the women's group, who sponsored and arranged the catering; Commodore Martin Oates, who both hosted and staffed the bar; and Port Adelaide Sailing Club patron, Colin Adams.

This weekend, 22 boats, each with an able-bodied sailor and a sailor with a disability at the helm, competed over the two days. Despite a worrying lack of breeze early on Saturday and having to end at lunch on Sunday because of the overwhelming heat, all the sailors had a good time and the competition was fierce. In a pleasing result for the hosting club, the Port Adelaide Sailing Club team won the club trophy, and young Ben Walters now has more trophies than his dad, setting up for a fine competition over the next few years.

The two clubs adjacent to each other, the Port Adelaide Sailing Club and the Port River Sailing Club, are both shining examples of the generosity and energy in our community. People helping each other, encouraging others, bringing in the young ones, and showing hospitality even to passing members of parliament, are all routine and second nature for these two clubs.