COMMUNITY SPORTING CLUBS

Ms BEDFORD (Florey) (16:00): Sport plays a huge role in community life, giving those who participate great opportunities to enjoy all the health and social benefits from being involved. I am grateful to all sponsors supporting community sport and congratulate all clubs on their fundraising and grant application efforts. Last weekend was particularly busy in Florey, with many end-of-season presentations and starts for others.

The North East Hockey Club, the home of the mighty Zulu Warriors, held their junior presentations on Friday night, with their gala senior presentation the following evening, because they now have such a big club with over 400 playing members. They are supported by a great committee and they field teams from the very young Minkeys, just learning their hockey skills, to veterans. Many teams had successful competitive years, with a large number of finals appearances and many great results, meaning 2014 is shaping up to be one of their best years yet. Thanks to Jim and Jenny Hughes and all involved in making the North East Hockey Club such a successful club.

On Saturday night I attended and also represented the member for Wright at the Endeavour Homes Tango Netball Club presentation night, on the invitation of Simon Finlay, their very busy and generous sponsorship officer. A huge crowd, including life members Kaye and Errol Hood, and many other life members and family supporters, was testament to the significant turnaround this club is enjoying following the hard work of the dedicated committee, led by Steve Windle. Tango has returned to the netball premier league under the coaching of the legendary Michelle den Dekker and her coaching staff and managers. Another north-east legend Pat Mickan is still involved as part of the club's coaching development team.

Tango has great potential and, with a strong junior contingent coming up, great depth in their ranks. It is my pleasure to feature the Tango Netball Club on the 2014 Florey electorate calendar soon to be distributed. A stellar year awaits all netballers in the north-east. Tango has adopted Childhood Cancer as their official charity, and I will do my best to eat as many Menz milk bottles as possible to support that charity, because I know funds raised by the sale of those lollies goes to them.

I look forward to attending the forthcoming test between traditional rivals Australia and New Zealand at the fixture in early October here in Adelaide, when we will see netball at its best and most exciting and inspiring. Netball is indeed one of the largest participation sports in the country, and I commend everyone who is involved, both men and women, because it is indeed a mixed sport.

On Sunday, there were calisthenics concerts for two local clubs, the Para Vista Calisthenics School and the Ridgehaven Calisthenics Club. I congratulate both clubs on their dedication to this wonderful sport and can recommend calisthenics as an affordable sport that develops skills for life in both girls and boys. There are boys now joining calisthenics in larger numbers—two or three at least are active.

I called through Golden Grove Recreation and Arts Centre to speak with Para Vista's Sandra Penno, busy as usual at the front of house overseeing the myriad of tasks necessary to make it a successful day. Then I travelled to the Shedley Theatre in Elizabeth to watch the first half of the Ridgehaven calisthenics concert. So many Tinies ensures a great future for this great club, responsible for my initial and continuing involvement in calisthenics now as both a CASA and ACF patron.

I greatly appreciated watching the items and it is evident the care that each and every participant receives from their coaches. Girls from upper levels work with the younger ones and every girl is an important member of the club. Senior coach Tracey Emes continues to oversee great standards and performances that continue to raise the bar. Congratulations to all involved, especially those who make the wonderful costumes, on another great year.

Opening day was celebrated at bowls clubs all over Adelaide and Hope Valley Bowling Club, where I have the honour to be patron, put on another fabulous day in glorious weather, culminating in another of their legendary afternoon teas, during which life membership was awarded to David Waterhouse. I want to put on record a special thank you to all volunteers who work in the kitchen and bar area of this community club, because their work makes such events so enjoyable.

With the day almost over, it was not possible to call into the Tea Tree Gully Croquet Club's nearby clubrooms, where their Swiss doubles tournament had taken place. The chess of lawn sports, croquet has been a popular sport in the north-eastern suburbs for many years, and I was actually a member of the club at its previous home on Bentley Reserve at Holden Hill some 25 years ago.

Their now comfortable and well-appointed clubrooms on Grand Junction Road by Barracks Road regularly hosts visitors from the metro and regional areas. I thank Peter and Kaye Rostron and their committee for all they do, and for always making me welcome whenever I get there.

These activities rounded off a very busy weekend that also saw me travel to Murray Bridge twice to attend the University of South Australia's Australian International Pedal Prix 24-hour endurance event. I look forward to reporting on those activities and results in detail in another contribution.