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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2023-11-15 Daily Xml
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King Electorate

Mrs PEARCE (King) (15:33): I would like to take this opportunity to talk about the amazing effort undertaken by a local sporting club in my community, which has raised some absolutely incredible funds for an amazing cause. I promise I am not being biased when I say that my community is home to one of, if not the best tennis club in Adelaide, the Golden Grove Tennis Club.

They do have the awards to back that claim, as they won Tennis SA's most outstanding club earlier this year, making it a back-to-back achievement. What makes this club so outstanding is not solely their incredible sporting achievements but their welcoming environment and family-friendly nature, in addition to their commitment to giving back to the local community that I believe takes them that extra mile.

The Golden Grove Tennis Club are deeply committed to giving back to the local community. Every year they get together to provide food hampers to families in need. They host free come-and-try days to help make the sport as accessible as possible, and they go around to the community to showcase how rewarding and enjoyable taking up tennis can be.

But the spirit of the club really shone through recently when they all came together on 7 October to host a 24-hour charity tennis marathon in support of funding breast cancer research. When I was asked if I would like to come out and have a hit of tennis with the member for Wright, I could not turn down the opportunity. Given that it was in support of such an amazing cause, I could not resist getting behind this amazing effort, even if I do say I was a little bit rusty. Just as the club does whatever it can when there is an opportunity to help, everybody came out to help back this amazing initiative.

From the committee members who were instrumental to helping get the day up and running to members of the club and community who helped where they could, volunteering on the day, donating beautiful baked goods for the cake sale, to local businesses who donated items for the silent auction and raffle, thank you very much. A very special shout-out goes to the member for Newland who came out and lent a hand with the barbecue. It was phenomenal to see so many keen to make sure that this 24-hour tennis marathon would be a hit. It was amazing to see the effort put in by all members of the club who came out throughout the night and into the very early morning to play tennis for a great cause.

Activities during the marathon included a raffle, a silent auction, a bake sale with some delicious goods, face painting for the kids, with play continuing on the courts throughout the early, early hours of the morning. Even when the winds picked up throughout the night, the dedicated members continued to play. All throughout this, a group of volunteers remained from start to finish, some inside and slightly warmer, with drinks ready and available, but others were outside courtside to help those playing tennis to continue to push through the conditions of the night.

I am extremely pleased to share that together the Golden Grove Tennis Club, through the efforts of every one of their members and supporters who came out to make sure the event was a success, were actually able to raise over $22,000 for Australian Breast Cancer Research. I want to extend my congratulations to the Golden Grove Tennis Club on what was an incredibly amazing effort, one which encapsulates the spirit of our community so well, coming out in support of a good cause, setting aside their own time to ensure that it was a success and getting around the club which has often been there to support so many people who have become a part of its family.

I would also like to extend my thanks to the president, Craig Mousley, and the entire committee who helped bring the day together and for inviting me to take part in the day. You did an absolutely amazing job, and I was honoured to play a part helping make it a success. It speaks volumes to the power of the community with clubs like the Golden Grove Tennis Club, of which my electorate of King is home to so many, that are all very much committed to giving back. We are made stronger through clubs such as theirs bringing everybody together, and I cannot wait to see what they achieve next.

I would also like to give a shout-out to a young sports star from our local community, Emily Hart, who recently represented our community overseas in Bangkok for tenpin bowling. It was her first time overseas without parents. She represented on the youth team, and she took out a silver in the singles. Since coming back, she has competed also in Queensland, taking out second place again. It is no surprise that she is a finalist for the Rebel South Australian Sport Awards as Emerging Athlete of the Year, and I wish her congratulations and every success.

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