House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-10-29 Daily Xml

Contents

Grievance Debate

CHAFFEY ELECTORATE

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (15:21): I rise today to showcase some of the achievements of constituents in the electorate of Chaffey over the last couple of months, claiming state, national and international awards, and it has certainly kept me busy acknowledging these achievements. These awards include the 2013 Advantage SA Awards which I attended in Murray Bridge last Friday evening. The health award winner was the Murray-Mallee Aged Care Group established in 1984, a not-for-profit home aged care service. The wine award winner and large business award winner was Kingston Estate Wines, headed up by Bill and his wife Ivanka Moularadelous. Kingston Estate wines is the largest supplier of private label Australian wine and contributes over $30 million to the Riverland's economy with 23 vineyards in the region and employs 120 locals.

The sustainability award winner was BirdLife Australia Gluepot Reserve. Based near Waikerie, it is Australia's largest community-managed and operated conservation reserve under the Judas goat program. The arts award winner was Alysha Herrmann, an absolute achiever in our region. Alysha is an artist whose work is based on performance, literature and installation, and she has been involved in mentoring, Riverland Youth Theatre and creative writing. The small business award winner was Caudo Vineyard. Young Zac is a real goer, and he and his parents have Caudo Vineyard which is a wedding destination and a cellar door, and they also hosted the True Grit event in the Riverland, which was an absolute success.

The community group award winner was Mid Murray Support Services, which was established in 1987. It is a volunteer-driven organisation providing services to disadvantaged people in the Mid Murray Council area, and they operate an emergency food bank. The community individual award winner was Bruce Mellett. Bruce has the golden voice on 1062 on ABC Radio in Renmark, and it was a great achievement by him. The education award winner was the Barmera Primary School, which I am very proud of, with their environment expo inspired by the Kids Teaching Kids methodology, and they really are a great working example of how children can mentor children, and also their Indigenous programs.

Some other award winners include: the Mid Murray Council which was recognised for outstanding achievements in the fight against heart disease at the national 2013 Heart Foundation Health Community Awards this week; and the Loxton Waikerie council and the Loxton Chamber of Commerce were presented with the 2013 Mainstreet SA Outstanding Partnership Award last week for the Our Hub Our Pride East Terrace Revitalisation Project.

Berri builders Craig and Gill Hotham were named Hotondo Homes South Australian Franchisee of the Year for the second year running, and Berri man Kevin Deakin recently tasted success at the Australian Amateur Wine Competition, taking home a gold medal, three silvers and two bronze—a great achievement. Renmark High School's year 10 class was awarded the best red at the inaugural Royal Adelaide Schools Wine Competition, and Jubilee Almonds' Chloe Shaw received this year's Rural Youth Bursary at the Agriculture Bureau of South Australia's Spirit of Excellence awards, and will spend two weeks in California, investigating innovations in the almond industry.

Berri business Arrosto Coffee was awarded two sliver medals at the Natvia Golden Bean Roaster Competition held in Port Macquarie recently, which is a national event—a great achievement. AlmondCo Australia and AgriExchange are finalists in the 2013 SA Food Industry Awards. Kylie Eggers, the Principal at Swan Reach Area School, was awarded School/Preschool Leader of the Year in the Murray and Mallee, and Terry Brandon was awarded Secondary School Teacher of the Year. Loxton High School's Jane Garrard received a lifetime achievement award. Havenhand Chocolates in Waikerie recently won three silver medals at the 2013 South Australian Dairy Industry Awards.

These are great achievements, and it has been a very successful period in the Riverland, Mallee and Murraylands, and I am sure we will continue to see further achievements in the future. I congratulate all those groups and individuals that have been successful, and of course the volunteers that have helped keep the dream alive in Chaffey. I am very, very proud of what has been achieved in the electorate of Chaffey, and I will continue to come to this place and acknowledge the outstanding achievements by those individuals and businesses.