Chaffey Electorate

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (15:35): I rise today to acknowledge some of the fantastic people in the electorate of Chaffey who have been recognised in recent times. In tennis, we have a rich sporting culture in the electorate, with passion and commitment from those who have contributed to our great sporting past, giving our young aspiring athletes inspiration for the future. We have a very rich tennis history that dates back decades and fantastic people in the community who volunteer their time to ensure the competitions run each year.

The Tennis SA awards celebrate and recognise players, coaches, clubs, communities, volunteers and officials for their service to the sport here in South Australia. The awards were held on 1 May in Adelaide, and three awards went to the Riverland. The Most Outstanding Competition in regional South Australia went to the Riverland Lawn Tennis Association. The award recognises a competition that has demonstrated commitment to inclusivity and diversity, ensuring that players of all ages, abilities and backgrounds have access to a variety of competitive playing options. It is a credit to the hard work and dedication of the team and a recognition of the important role the association plays in our Riverland community.

The Most Outstanding Tennis Club in the regions went to the Renmark Tintra Lawn Tennis Club, where I have played many a time. The club was recognised for providing facilities and programs to the community that get people out there playing tennis. This is the second time the club has taken home the award after winning in 2019. Local legend John Pick accepted both awards, as he is the president of both organisations. Picky, as he is affectionately known, has been a legend in the tennis scene in Renmark for over 25 years, and he was officially recognised with a Volunteer Achievement Award at the Tennis Australia Awards in 2019.

The Most Outstanding School award went to Cobdogla Primary School, and I acknowledge principal David Ness. This award recognises schools that play an important role in tennis and the community by introducing primary and secondary students to tennis and providing links to their local club and coach in order to provide a pathway for opportunities that really go to the next level. It is a fantastic effort by Cobby primary school, with just over 100 students to receive the award. Cobby primary school has a longstanding history in tennis development, with Wimbledon and Australian Open champion Luke Saville hailing from Cobby.

I would also like to commend Shane Nettle for his lifetime of playing, dedicated coaching and community leadership. Of course, I cannot go without acknowledging his brother Shannon, who is a long-time pro circuit player and now a mentor. What we have seen in Cobdogla is really a great achievement. It is a credit to the school and the staff who go the extra mile to ensure students are given the opportunity to participate and the encouragement to compete.

I would also like to acknowledge International Nurses Day, a day to recognise and express our gratitude for the perseverance of nurses who work tirelessly to keep us healthy. Of course, the COVID-19 pandemic has made evident the vital role that our frontline nurses play, so my sincere thanks go to all the nurses in Chaffey, and indeed right around the country, on International Nurses Day.

A special shout-out goes to Julie Webber, who works at Pioneer Haven in Waikerie. Julie was recently awarded the Excellence in Practice in Aged Care at the South Australian Nursing and Midwifery Excellence Awards. This award recognises the outstanding performance of a registered or enrolled nurse who provides an exemplary standard of care, epitomises professionalism and is committed to providing evidence-based and person-centred care to older people. I would also like to recognise Katherine Seiboth from the Loxton Hospital, who was a finalist in the Early Career Nurse/Midwife award.

Congratulations also go out to Tim and Julie Vivian at the Loxton Country Bakehouse. They are finalists for one of the five best country bakeries. If any of you heading up to the Riverland pass through Loxton, make sure you drop into the Country Bakehouse. They have great friendly staff and their reputation is second to none. They always provide beautiful pies, pasties and condiments, and I must say that their custard tarts are just a dream to eat. Anyone heading up to Loxton, drop into the Country Bakehouse.