Australian Masters Games

Ms HILDYARD (Reynell) (15:32): I rise to speak about the outstanding 15^th Australian Masters Games that were held last week in sporting venues across our beautiful state. I was both delighted and privileged to represent minister Bignell and help welcome competitors from across the globe at the opening of the games on the Saturday before last at the stunning Adelaide Convention Centre, where thousands of athletes gathered to celebrate their sports and long histories of sportspersonship, their friendships and their forthcoming clashes on the fields, waterways, courts and tracks of our state. It was a night to remember, with a fabulous sense of excitement for the week ahead.

I participated in two basketball teams at this year's Masters Games and, pardon the pun, had an absolute ball. Our teams played hard, enjoying passionately fought-out yet social games against new friends, women from all walks of life and many different places, including Christchurch, Melbourne and the Australian Defence Force, a very fit team indeed. Whilst neither of my teams secured a ticket to the big dance, we thoroughly enjoyed our time in the games, and if you catch me crawling this week it is because I am not fit, not particularly skilled at my chosen sport, but was totally committed to running as hard as I could in support of our team efforts.

From an early age, participation in sport has provided me with a wonderful sense of being part of the bigger community family filled with generous volunteers and friends who have been there for me in so many ways. I know that many involved in the Masters Games have also experienced a similar sense of belonging in their communities on their journeys to the pinnacle of many of our sporting careers, the Australian Masters Games. This same spirit was deeply embedded in these games. They were filled with passionate and friendly competitors, extraordinarily generous volunteers and tireless organisers working together to advance a common love of sport and, importantly, a great sense of community.

The games were made possible by in excess of approximately 1,500 volunteers over the course of the event, an extraordinary number of people to donate their time and effort to the event's success, and a successful event it was. Thousands of passionate South Australian community members participated in these Masters Games, which we were privileged to host for the sixth time since they commenced.

More than 10,000 athletes competed across almost 60 diverse sports including softball, dragon boat racing, weightlifting, darts and roller derby. The games provided a great opportunity for people to try new sports, for people who left their sporting careers behind many years ago to start afresh and for seasoned senior athletes to test their mettle at a high level. Records were broken, personal bests were achieved, and extraordinary displays of courage, camaraderie and athleticism were shown by athletes aged right into their 90s.

South Australians can be proud that we hosted this year's Masters Games. They are estimated to provide an economic benefit to our state in excess of $9 million in addition to the incredible community benefits. I was pleased to show off our beautiful state and facilities to our interstate and international guests. Amongst the 10,000 athletes were thousands of visitors, as well as their family members and other supporters.

The Masters Games are also a very social occasion, as I am sure many of you who were around the city last week would have seen. They are a time for friendship, laughter, reminiscing about past glories and perhaps a few quiet drinks. It was clear from the many conversations I had with fellow participants that our social program was incredibly well received, with many a basketball team heading off post a drink at the Wayville or Pasadena stadium to the games village to enjoy the not-so-real Abba, the not-so-real Kylie Minogue or just some time in our beautiful CBD.

Over the next two months in South Australia, we will host the ITU Duathlon World Championships, which are on this weekend, the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, the Adelaide Motorsport Festival, the Australian International 3 Day Event, which will incorporate the Equestrian Grand Final for the first time, and the Pacific School Games. I look forward to welcoming participants and supporters of these events.

In closing, I want to recognise the fantastic women I had the opportunity to play with last week. All of us lead incredibly busy lives, yet we made time—with the support of our families, many of whom cheered us on throughout the week—to get together and enjoy these amazing games. Thank you to all of them for their friendship, their patience and the fine spirit with which they approached our games campaign.

In particular, thanks to the legendary and incredibly kind Amanda Miller, who I know volunteers in many ways in our community, including at the mighty Christies Beach Surf Life Saving Club and who selflessly took on the task of organising our bunch of hard-to-organise and extraordinarily busy women. I am looking forward to the games in 2019.