Riverland Award Winners

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE (Chaffey—Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development) (15:13): I rise to speak about some inspirational people in the Riverland. Representing the electorate of Chaffey, nothing brings greater warmth to my heart than people who are achieving, particularly the young ones.

Cameron Rankine and Aaron Schneider from Loxton Primary School were recently among the recipients for the Minister of Education's Children's Week Awards. Cameron and Aaron were recognised for their work as members of the Young Aboriginal STEM Thinkers in South Australia team for 2019, the STEM Aboriginal Student Congress and for the inspiration they provided to 800 Aboriginal student peers.

Cameron Dixon from Glossop High School received an honourable mention for his exemplary contribution to the school community through his understanding of technology and the media. Cameron has also been doing fantastic work in the agriculture sector with his drones. That was an important part of the school team who provided the live broadcast to the Riverland football grand final this year. I did go to Glossop middle campus to meet Cameron and to understand how good he is with a drone.

The Languages in Schools 2019-20 in-country immersion scholarship went to Rachel Lawson, a teacher at Waikerie Primary School. The scholarship forms part of the state government's Languages in Schools strategy. The scholarship will fund a trip to Colombia in January of 2020 and will allow Rachel to be fully immersed in the Colombian culture and share her learnings with students.

At the Riverland Wine Show, the famous Angove Family Winemakers won three awards: the best organic biodynamic wine in show for the 2019 Angove Rose; the best brandy—and we all love a good St Agnes brandy—the brandy for St Agnes, XO Brandy, received an award; and the best fortified red wine for the Angoves Grand Tawny. The Semmler family, both Jenny and Eric, are synonymous with the wine industry. Jenny also received the Riverland Wine Industry Award. Congratulations to them both.

The award acknowledges exceptional contribution to the Riverland wine industry. Jenny Semmler won the award for striving for excellence in her endeavours in the vineyard and in the winemaking industry. She also contributes away from her own business by serving on the Destination Riverland board, being a member of the Riverland Wine Marketing Group and a constant advocate for the Riverland wine industry.

Dr Raphael Torome won Australia's General Practice Supervisor of the Year at the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners awards. This was in addition to being awarded the South Australian General Practitioner Supervisor of the Year in July. What a great achievement. Dr Torome was nominated for this award because he is a supportive, knowledgeable and highly respected mentor, and nothing is too much trouble. He works endlessly to ensure best patient outcomes. He has been a GP in Barmera for almost 20 years. Congratulations to Dr Torome.

Hayley Pfieler received the SA Global Leadership of Future Food Safety Learning Scholarship at the APAC Food Safety Conference in Sydney. She was nominated by her employer, Renee Morelli, for the award. The award gives Hayley the opportunity to learn so much more through the courses that can be applied to her career. The food safety awards aim to honour individuals who make important contributions to food safety in Australia and across the ditch in New Zealand.

The Barmera Primary School won the Woolworths Junior Landcare Team Award for the 2019 South Australian Landcare awards. The group consists of Barmera Primary School students Tegan von Laue, Fletcher Dillon, Lucas Allder, Jaxson Fridd, Jessie Priest, Billy Kartinyeri and Trinity Williams. The award recognises outstanding contribution that an individual or group under the age of 18 years makes in tackling environmental issues.

The Young Environmental Leaders Program conduct an annual environmental expo, which showcases the students' environmental work in a two-day event. Additionally, the young environmental leaders have been working with the Berri-Barmera Landcare and the Gerard Country Rangers to propagate and plant hundreds of native plants throughout the Riverland. These are great achievers in the Riverland. They are great young achievers who have done so much, not only for education but they have proved to be absolute icons in their community.

I also joined the member for Hammond down at the International Dark Sky Reserve at Cambrai. The Big Bend Lookout on the Murray River is now officially one of the best places in the world to see the night sky. The rating down there is 21.9, which is the highest level of darkness anywhere in the world. There are 15 recognised areas of darkness, and Cambrai on the River Murray is once again an iconic tourism destination.