Rio Olympic Games

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (15:14): I would like to speak about the impending Rio Olympic Games and talk about the Riverland and South Australian representation at this much anticipated sporting event. The athletes are over there as we speak preparing as best as they possibly can for the events which are kicking off next week.

Firstly, I would like to wish South Australian athletes good luck for the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games in Rio. Just to make it this far is a phenomenal effort and requires huge commitment, dedication and passion in their chosen sport. As a proud South Australian, I cannot wait to see our athletes represent their country on the world stage, particularly sitting on a very comfortable lounge and watching all that hard work and sweat pay off.

The Riverland has produced a number of Olympic medal-winning athletes over the years, including the likes of Berri's Hayden Stoeckel and Loxton's Sophie Edington in swimming, and Loxton's Grant Schubert in hockey. At the recent Glasgow Commonwealth Games, South Australian athletes took out one-fifth of Australia's gold medals, so I remain hopeful that we can put together a great performance on an even bigger stage.

The Riverland in the great electorate of Chaffey will have three representatives: Berri locals Karri McMahon and Georgie Parker have been named in the Hockeyroos squad, while Loxton rower Alex Hill is a member of the Australian Olympic rowing squad in the men's coxless fours team. There will be plenty of eager supporters in the region watching at home, willing on our local athletes, as will the families of Karri, Gavin and Deb, and Peter and Michelle will be there cheering Alex. Georgie will have family representatives over in Rio as well. It is a fantastic achievement by those three Riverland athletes.

It has been fantastic to have the interaction of Olympic athletes with our students as role models, and these athletes play an important role in our local communities. It is always pleasing to see this sort of interaction. Earlier this month, the Renmark West Primary School spoke to the Australian taekwondo Olympian Caroline Martin last week via video link and just this week Hockey Australia CEO, Cam Vale, visited St Joe's Primary School in Renmark. The students were able to write letters of support to the athletes competing at the Olympics, particularly those local athletes being in the Hockeyroos and the rowing team.

I recently caught up with Anna Meares just before she headed off to Rio and she was sounding really upbeat. She is a great competitor, a great South Australian and a great sports star of the world. Shortly after that she was named captain of the Australian team and the flagbearer, which was a huge honour, so congratulations to Anna.

Other South Australian athletes participating include Sam Willoughby from Happy Valley BMX track, who started out at the Happy Valley BMX Club and won silver at the Olympic Games in London. There are 12 cyclists from South Australia: Alex and Annette Edmondson, Jack Bobridge, Glenn O'Shea, Callum Scotson, Matthew Glaetzer, Stephanie Morton, Patrick Constable, Rohan Dennis and Anthony Dean. As I have just said, the flag bearer, Anna Meares, is lining up for her fourth Olympic Games.

In athletics, we have: the lovely Jess Trengove, who won silver at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow two years ago; Tanya Holiday; and Jared Tallent, who was rightfully awarded his gold medal recently from London. In Badminton, Leanne Choo is in the mixed doubles. In rowing, we have Alex Hill, as I said. In diving, we have Grant Nel. In shooting, South Australia has William Goodward, Jack Rossiter and David Chapman.

In swimming, we have Joshua Palmer and Kyle Chalmers, with whom I had lunch a couple of weeks ago and he is very upbeat; he is a great young South Australian. In tennis, we have Thanasi Kokkinakis. In trampoline, we have Blake Gaudry. In Volleyball, we have Louise Bawdin, Taliqua Clancy, Nicole Laird and Mariafe Astracho Del Solar. We have a large Hockeyroos representation with Georgie Parker and Karri McMahon, as well as Jane-Anne Claxton and Gabrielle Nance.

In conclusion, I would like to mention another outstanding Riverland sporting success story: young Aaron Francis, who grew up playing football at East Murray and then moved up to Loxton North and later to West Adelaide, made his AFL debut. He is a great example of what young country South Australian footballers can achieve. Of course, he debuted for Essendon on the weekend and he looked like he was right at home, which is great. Watch this space as Aaron has a bright future in AFL; he can definitely last the distance. He comes from good stock: his father, Dave, played more than 400 games for East Murray. We have had great achievements by Riverlanders. Congratulations to all South Australians representing Australia at the Rio Olympic Games and I wish them well.