House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2023-11-02 Daily Xml

Contents

Schubert Electorate

Mrs HURN (Schubert) (15:23): Last parliamentary sitting week, I had the opportunity in this place to recognise some of the amazing sporting feats that we have had in my local community of the Barossa Valley and right across the northern Adelaide Hills, but unfortunately I could not get to all of them. There are a number of local clubs and teams that have had great success. Today I would like to update the house on some additional success that we have seen across the electorate in a range of sports.

I would like to start with basketball. The Barossa Basketball Association does a truly remarkable job. I must say that the participation rates that we are seeing in basketball in the region, particularly at the junior level, are absolutely extraordinary, to the point where scheduling is now fast becoming a nightmare for all the volunteers who work so hard to cram in as many games as they possibly can at the rec centre.

Congratulations to all of the teams, from the under 10s to the under 18s. We had wins from Echoes Dark, the Magic, the TBC Takers, Echoes Light, Panthers White, the Bulldogs and the Tigers. Well done to all of those juniors. Every single time I have been out at the rec centre watching them, I see the passion and the joy it brings them, and I find myself reflecting on the basketball that I grew up playing at the old rec centre on the outskirts of Tanunda.

In the A-grade for the men, I would like to congratulate the Angaston Panthers, my old club. In the B-grade men, we had a win from the Bricklayers. For the C-grade men, that went to Echoes Dark. Congratulations to all of the men's teams in the basketball competition who took home the premiership victory this season. In the A-grade women, the TBC Takers won that grand final. In the B-grade, we had the Barossa Bandits, and in the C-grade women we had again Angaston Panthers White.

A particular congratulations to all those teams, but to everyone who has participated in basketball over this season, well done. It is not just the players but, of course, we know that they would not be able to take the court if it were not for the umpires, the coaches and all of the staff who run the rec centre, whether that be in the canteen or making sure that they have fantastic facilities. I know that they are in desperate need of some more space, and that is something that as a local community we all need to work on.

In hockey, there is the Barossa Valley Hockey Association. We had a number of milestones across a whole host of clubs this year, particularly in the men's comp. We had a number of players who reached 300 games playing for a particular club, 400 games and even 500 games, and that is an absolute feat. Like all legends from the country, they take this in their stride, and I just hope that they reflect on the massive success that they have been able to have.

In the A-grade, this is a pretty amazing one: AM United won their eighth premiership in a row. AM United won their eighth premiership in a row, which is absolutely fantastic. A number of those players have played in multiple premierships, so a massive shout-out to them. I caught up with a few players recently when I was presenting them with their Active Club grant certificate, and it is fair to say that they were still all absolutely ecstatic. I wish them all the best for next season as well.

In the B-grade, Nuri did make it to the big dance. Unfortunately they went down, but it was fantastic for them to be there. In the C-grade, the Tanunda men won, so a big congratulations to them. In the under 16s, we had AM United again take home the premiership victory. In the A-grade women, we had Tanunda make it, but unfortunately they lost. I would like to give a particular shout-out, though, to Lilly Neldner, who was awarded the best player on the day, which I think is particularly fantastic on a losing side, so congratulations to Lilly. I wish them all the very best for next season.

Again, like I reflected on for basketball and like I have reflected on for all the winter sports in my local community, the associations, all of the coaches and all of the volunteers do a remarkable job. Sport is a big part of the Barossa Valley and the northern Adelaide Hills. It is the heartbeat of our region in so many ways, bringing together people from all over the district. Congratulations to everyone on their winter sports, and all the best for next year. To all of the teams who are coming up for their summer sports, I wish you all the very best as well.