Greyhound Racing

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS (15:39): I was pleased to accept the invitation from Greyhound Racing SA chairman, Grantley Stevens, to attend the Greyhound of the Year awards dinner at Nixon's Function Centre in Gawler on 15 February. It was also good to represent the Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing, the Hon. Corey Wingard, in announcing the winners in the SA Bred, Sprinting and Distance categories.

The 2019 TAB Greyhound of the Year was awarded to Alicante Bouchet. Trained by Ben Rawlings and owned by his sister Meg, Alicante Bouchet had a fantastic 2019 season, highlighted by a great win in the Group 2 All Star Sprint at Cannington in Western Australia in October. The daughter of Kilty Lad and Mighty Chaos, Alicante Bouchet was bred in South Australia by Tanya Rawlings, who also took home the award for SA Bred Greyhound of the Year, while sharing the SA Sprinting Greyhound of the Year Award with Coorong Lucy, which is trained by Cameron Butcher. Well done to Alicante Bouchet, Ben, Meg and all the connections on a great achievement.

The award for the Distance category was presented to the connections of the greyhound Five Thirty. The evening also included a number of other awards, including a Contribution to Industry Award to the veterinarian Dr Jane McNicholl. Outstanding Service to the Industry Awards were presented to June Whyte and Don Foster. The 2019 SA Breeder of the Year was Judi Hurley, the Owner/Trainer of the Year was Cameron Butcher, and the Leading TAB Trainer of the Year was Tony Rasmussen, who took out that award for the fifth time in a row. I am also aware that the award for the 2019 SA City Strike Rate, based on performances at Angle Park city meetings, went to Kirin Corby. This was the second year in a row in which Kirin has won that particular category.

The night was a terrific event within an industry that has led the way nationally. I think the greyhound industry in South Australia is in good stead. Certainly, the people who are part of that sector are a fabulous cross-section of South Australians who are very dedicated to a sport that they love. Part of that dedication is, I think, the support for the greyhound adoption program, which is something that has been championed by Greyhound Racing SA for a long period of time. I know that program is as well regarded as any in the nation. I should also mention the work of GRSA CEO, Matt Corby, and his staff and also the work of Mr Stevens and his fellow directors of GRSA.

I think the fact that this event has been run for several years now at the Nixon's Function Centre, which is run by the Gawler Greyhound Racing Club, is a tribute to not only that event but the way in which that venue has been accepted as a great place within the Gawler community and further beyond. I have certainly been to many community events in that facility and have actually run some of my own there. It is a terrific venue with excellent food and service. I want to congratulate the Gawler Greyhound Racing Club for the operation of Nixon's and the track under the leadership of the longstanding club president, Mike Wittholz, and the CEO, Shawn Noack.