Nola Marino (Forrest, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Margaret River is the iconic, internationally recognised wine and tourist region of Western Australia. It has the highest recognition of any region in our state, based on a remarkable branding campaign that has seen the Margaret River name lauded throughout Europe and Asia. This recognition has been enhanced yet again by the world championship tour 2014 Drug Aware Margaret River Pro Surfing Championship. Thousands of spectators headed to Surfers Point in Prevelly to see the world's top ranked surfers take on the famous Margaret River main break, which offers some of the best surfing conditions in the world. In the final, Michel Bourez just tipped out Australian Josh Kerr. Hawaiian surfer Carissa Moore won the women's event from Australia's Tyler Wright. The event attracted an unprecedented level of media attention. Much of the week and half of the festivities that accompanied the surfing happened at the iconic Settlers Tavern in the heart of Margaret River. The event is very rightly promoted as 'world-class waves and wine'. I would like to congratulate Surfing WA and local supporters, including the veritable army of volunteers, for once again showcasing the fabulous Margaret River region and for making sure that visitors and locals had the most marvellous experience that I am sure they will remember for the rest of their lives. This has been held at the redeveloped Surfers Point, following the devastating bushfires of 2011, with state and federal government funding, seeing surfers and crowds treated to world-class facilities. (Time expired)