Reclink Australia

Adjourned debate on motion of Hon. T.A. Franks:

That this council—

1. Recognises that Reclink Australia has been outstanding in delivering sport, recreation and arts participation opportunities to some of the community's most vulnerable and isolated people, at risk youth and those experiencing disadvantage, including mental illness, disability, homelessness, alcohol and other drug issues and social and economic hardship; and

2. Applauds the inaugural Adelaide Reclink Community Cup fundraising football match between players from community and mainstream media (the Adelaide Anchors) and local musicians (the Rockatoos) held on 16 August 2015.

(Continued from 14 October 2015.)

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (17:54): I rise on behalf of the opposition to briefly comment on the motion moved by the Hon. Ms Franks on 14 October, namely that this council recognises that Reclink Australia has been outstanding in delivering sport, recreation and arts participation opportunities to some of the community's most vulnerable and isolated people, at risk youth and those experiencing disadvantage, including mental illness, disability, homelessness, alcohol and other drug issues and social and economic hardship; and applauds the inaugural Adelaide Reclink Community Cup fundraising football match between players from community and mainstream media (that team is called the Adelaide Anchors) and local musicians (the Rockatoos) held on 16 August 2015.

I indicate that, of course, the opposition will be supporting this motion and proudly so. As mentioned by previous contributors, Reclink Australia is a non-profit which enhances the lives of society's most vulnerable and marginalised people through sports and the arts. It was founded in Victoria in 1990 and now operates nationally. I, for one, will always champion the use of sport to bring people together and this is what this organisation does. It seeks to pull people out of the cycle of disadvantage through sport, and that I wholeheartedly support. It is a cause that I believe in. This is the power of community sport.

The Community Cup that the motion refers to was a football match between a community and media team, the Adelaide Anchors, and a side of local musicians, the Rockatoos. My understanding is that the Hon. Mr Maher played in the Rockatoos side. I congratulate all involved, although I am a little disappointed that someone did not take the opportunity to run through the Hon. Mr Maher. It looked like a great event with over 1,100 people in attendance. This was the first time it had been conducted in Adelaide. Similar events have been held in Melbourne and Sydney over the years.

I will not repeat the words of the Hon. Ms Franks and the Hon. Mr Maher, but I will mention something that I learnt from the Hon. Ms Franks' contribution, that the Choir of Hard Knocks was a Reclink initiative. It is a program that I remember with fondness. I am very happy to support the great work of Reclink. I congratulate the Hon. Ms Franks for the motion and I commend it to the council.

The Hon. K.L. VINCENT (17:56): The opportunity to engage with others through recreation and play is something that evidence supports for physical and mental health, and yet it is something which is out of reach for too many people in our community due to particular circumstances. Reclink is out and about actively taking action on this issue and closing that gap, working with people who are disengaged and isolated through a broad range of enjoyable activities. Seeing people, whatever their experience or circumstances, as people first is a way of decreasing stigma, increasing confidence and giving the sense of connection to community that is a deep human need.

I know that people with disabilities are, I suppose you could argue, over-represented in the client base of Reclink and the opportunities that are available include artistic pursuits, drumming, circus skills and perhaps one of my closest own interests, I should note, tours of the Haigh's factory. As noted in this motion, there are also sporting opportunities, in particular the Adelaide Reclink Community Cup which the Hon. Ms Franks and the Hon. Mr Maher talked about at length in their contributions.

It certainly sounds like a fantastic involvement. I think it is well known and well accepted that I am not a particularly sporty person myself but you never know, that might change. I will flag with the Hon. Ms Franks that I know where to get some sports wheelchairs, some racing wheelchairs, if required for a future cup. I would love to see if we could get that happening.

I add Dignity for Disability's congratulations for all involved in that tournament. I would love to see what we could do in the future maybe to get even more participants which may or may not include me. I certainly do not want to go on the record as promising anything until I know a bit more as to what I am up for. I might need to go to the gym a few more times before I am ready for that. With those few words, Dignity for Disability thanks the Hon. Ms Franks for bringing this organisation to the attention of the council and also acknowledges the impassioned involvement of the Hon. Mr Maher, if his contribution was anything to go by. I certainly indicate our strong support for the motion.

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (14:59): I would like to thank those who made a contribution to this motion: the Hon. Kyam Maher, the Hon. Terry Stephens, and the Hon. Kelly Vincent. There is a cross-party consensus of support for this wonderful organisation which brings together sports and arts and addresses issues of social disadvantage.

I look forward to our parliament being more actively engaged as Reclink and their Community Cup continues to work. I do hear that there may be a cricket rematch come the summer months, so I will keep members informed of those developments as they occur. With those few words, I welcome support for the motion.

Motion carried.

Sitting suspended from 18:00 to 19:47.