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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2021-02-02 Daily Xml
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Murray, Mr P.

Ms COOK (Hurtle Vale) (16:11): It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I advise the house of the passing of Hub Gymnastics Club beloved coach, club stalwart and dear friend Mr Paul Murray. Paul was an inaugural life member, an extraordinary coach of 23 years at the Hub Gymnastics Club, a great mentor to coaches and gymnasts and a dear friend to all at the Hub Gymnastics Club. Paul was awarded Coach of the Year in 2013 by Gymnastics South Australia and awarded life membership of Gymnastics South Australia in 2016, serving on the board for five years and chairing it enthusiastically for two of those.

He was a brilliant ambassador for the development of gymnastics at club level and also across the state of South Australia. Paul was so very well loved and appreciated. He pushed all the club's members to do their very best and he believed in them all, often more than they believed in themselves. His inspirational support and tenacious generosity blessed the lives of everyone he met. From all who had the pleasure of knowing Paul, I have heard countless stories of selflessness, dedication, kindness, caring compassion and certainly his dorky dance moves.

Paul was referred to as a second dad by so many of the club's gymnasts in person, behind his back and all across social media, particularly in the past week. Without a doubt, he made such a huge impact on all the lives he touched. Paul was so passionate about giving young people in the south the opportunity to practise and compete in gymnastics. He was relentless in his pursuit of finding a home for the Hub Gymnastics Club and ensuring that it thrived. Paul's tenacity and dedication saw the club come back to its rightful home in the south.

This club was originally based at the Hub Recreation Centre in Aberfoyle Park from 1985 to 2013 before it was moved to Cosgrove Hall in Clovelly Park. This was because of new arrangements under contracts with the City of Onkaparinga. The rents skyrocketed and it was simply untenable. The club had been in discussions with the city council for a home where it could leave its equipment permanently set up because you can imagine that dismantling and reassembling enormous pieces of equipment on a day-to-day basis takes such a long time. That was untenable as well. They had been doing that since 2002.

These discussions really did escalate, as Cosgrove Hall was not big enough to allow the club to expand. Paul's tenacity and dedication saw the club come back to its rightful home in the south, and he himself described this as incredible. Paul never considered Cosgrove Hall to be the permanent home of the Hub Gymnastics Club and used this as a motivation to return to the City of Onkaparinga district. It was always the intention to achieve the club having a permanent facility.

The City of Onkaparinga mayor and councillors attended Cosgrove Hall—I also did, at Paul's request—to assist in relocating the club to the City of Onkaparinga district. He had discussions with Marion council, he investigated private properties within council area as new venues, he identified a number of properties in the southern area also, including old supermarkets that were available for purchase to the club—none of these came to fruition.

Paul made multiple representations at council meetings, highlighting the need for the club to return to the south. He instigated a petition to be signed by the public and presented to council. The club rallied behind Paul. There were over 1,500 signatures gained. Paul built strong relationships with various members of the wider community in order to achieve this desired goal. He was the very first community member to contact me and reach out for a meeting and he was the very first constituent I met in my office here in Parliament House in 2015.

He had such enormous partnerships with councillors, the Special Olympics, Gymnastics SA, Volunteering SA, Messenger Newspapers, Office for Rec and Sport—anyone who would listen. He had wide publicity and eventually, in February 2018, the City of Onkaparinga supported his ongoing commitment to find the club a home in the south, and in October 2018 the club officially moved. They have grown, they are thriving and since moving with 200 members only two years ago, he now has grown the club with its members to 427.

Moving to the Hills Rec Centre did not dampen his spirits. He lobbied over time whilst so very unwell. I will miss those energetic conversations. He will be sadly missed by so many and the club will forever have a hole in their hearts. My thoughts are with Amanda, Emma, Lauren and Sarah on the loss of their loving husband and father. Vale, Paul Murray, you are a legend.

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