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House of Assembly - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2015-12-02 Daily Xml
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Adjournment Debate

Riverland Sportsperson of the Year Awards

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (17:29): I would like to use this time to acknowledge one of the local sporting events in my electorate of Chaffey, that is, the winners and nominees of the recent 2014-15 5RM Berri Resort Hotel SGIC Riverland Sportsperson of the Year Awards.

The Riverland Sportsperson of the Year Award was first introduced in 1961, when the winner was cricket and golf champion Kevin Harrington. After a recess between 1971 and 1975, the recent presentation was the 51st time the region's leading sportspeople have been acknowledged in this way. The Riverland Sportsperson of the Year's decision is put in the hands of a panel of esteemed judges with decades of experience in the local sporting arena.

I would like to start by acknowledging all the nominees for the 2014-15 Riverland Sportsperson of the Year, and there are many of them, and they come from all sports, as the Riverland is known as an exemplary breeding ground of elite sportspeople. At the awards, the Riverland Legends of Sport inductees to the local version of the Hall of Fame were Leeanne Grantham in basketball, Rick Darling in cricket, and Tony Modra—and we all know Tony Modra—for football. He is another Riverland champion, as are Rick Darling and Leeanne.

The Riverland Sportsperson of the Year was Peter Dunk. Peter is the Commodore of the Lake Bonney Yacht Club and was named as Yachting South Australian Senior Sailor of the Year, which is a formidable feat coming from a small lake club compared with the large ocean clubs across South Australia. During 2015, Peter won the National and the South Australian Mosquito Catamaran Sloop Championships and also finished first in the Victorian State Titles.

As a member of the Mosquito Catamaran Association of South Australia, he won the Travellers Award and came first in the Dash for Cash. At his Barmera-based Lake Bonney Yacht Club, Peter won the Club Championship, he was first in the ANZAC Day Trophy Race, second in the handicap series and second in the 69th Easter Regatta. At the Victor Harbor Yacht Club, he was third in the Rum Race Regatta and was aboard the boat that finished 12th in the Adelaide to Port Lincoln race.

Peter has been sailing from a very young age, having both parents who were serious sailors. He competed in the 2002 Worlds in Sydney, the Sydney International Regatta and the Youth Nationals in 2003. He started sailing mosquito catamarans in 2003 and has competed in every national and state championship since 2004. What a great feat!

The Beaurepaires Peter Frankcom Junior Sports Star of the Year was Chris Dicerbo from the Loxton Rifle Club, where he is a member. He had a fantastic year, winning the state championships, an international win in New Zealand, and he has represented state and country at a number of events. I am told that Chris is often seen showing up his much more experienced competitors.

The 5RM Steve McFarlane Contribution to Sport Award was won by Jon Matthews from the Waikerie Football Club and the Waikerie Gold Cricket Club. He received the 2014 Cricket Australia 50 Year Service to Cricket Award, and that is a great achievement. The 5RM John Ormsby Coach of the Year Award went to Kev Barber. Kev is a longstanding coach in the Riverland, and I remember doing a coaching clinic with him when I was coaching one of the young Renmark teams.

Kevin is the Barmera United Soccer club coach. Barmera United won the 2015 A grade soccer title, when Kevin added to his total of 10 premierships across the grades. That is just a great feat. He has had five back-to-back flag wins in under 12s, the under 16s, the B Grade and twice in the A grade. These are just wonderful achievements.

Once again, I congratulate all the award winners, finalists and nominees on their outstanding contributions to Riverland sport and I wish them all the best for the upcoming season.

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