Bragg Electorate Rugby Clubs

Mr BATTY (Bragg) (15:22): I rise to congratulate two rugby clubs in my electorate. We have the Burnside Rugby Club and the Old Collegians Rugby Club, which at times are rivals but I love them both equally and they have both had extremely successful seasons this year. I would like to acknowledge some of their 2024 premiership season results, including some successes for their under 12s, which were runners-up, and their third grade team, which were runners-up. Their women's team were knocked out in elimination against Souths and of course in premier grade they were the champions, going back-to-back for the first time in the club's history defeating cross-town rivals Old Collegians in that instance.

I would also like to acknowledge, nevertheless, the success of Old Collegians as well. They were the runners-up in the premier grade, being defeated by Burnside this year, but their under 14s and their under 18s were both premiers. I congratulate them on their success, as well as their reserves team, which were runners-up this year.

I would like to acknowledge and thank all of the volunteers involved at the club and the president of each club: Greg English at the Burnside Rugby Club and Alex Kerr-Grant at the Old Collegians Rugby Club. I know a lot of people at both of those clubs give up a lot of time for a sport that they love. We are very appreciative of what they contribute to our community and we are very proud of their success this year.

As another school year comes to an end, I also want to take this opportunity to congratulate the graduating class of 2024 and wish them all the very best for their future endeavours. It is a great opportunity for us to reflect on the year that was and celebrate those achievements, and indeed those throughout their whole schooling.

I am very proud to have the best schools in the state in my electorate of Bragg, whether it be our primary schools, with Rose Park Primary, Linden Park Primary and Burnside Primary, or our number one and number two high schools, Glenunga International High School and Marryatville High School, which both vie for that position every year. There are a number of girls' schools as well: St Peters Girls, Loreto College, and Seymour College.

I am looking forward to attending each of those schools' speech days, graduation ceremonies and presentation nights over the coming weeks. Indeed, it was a pleasure to attend the Marryatville High School final year 12 assembly ever only a couple of weeks ago now, and it was a very happy occasion. At each of these occasions I present an award, the Steele & Cooper Award, which was initiated by my predecessor the member for Bragg, the Hon. Vickie Chapman.

The award commemorates the first two women elected into this parliament, Joyce Steele and Jessie Cooper in 1959. I hope that by telling that story to the various schools in my electorate, to the students who are graduating, I might inspire some of them to consider a career in politics, indeed in public service. I look forward to presenting that award at each of the schools in my electorate.

Before concluding I also want to acknowledge that we commemorated Remembrance Day this week, and pay tribute to all those who have fought to keep us free, who have died or suffered for Australia's cause in all wars and conflicts. I express all our gratitude for those who have served or who are serving.

I had the opportunity to attend the MESHA Remembrance Day breakfast, an important occasion to mark and commemorate those who have served, as well as to lay a wreath just outside my local electorate in Kensington Park. I want to thank the Kensington Park RSL for the work they do, not only this week but right throughout the year, in supporting our veterans and playing an important role in community. Lest we forget.