Julian Leeser (Berowra, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to congratulate the Greenway Giants Baseball and Softball Club on an outstanding 2016-17 season. The Greenway Giants baseball club has been a much valued and energetic part of the electorate of Berowra since 1990. It has more than 510 registered players across both women's and men's competitions, ranging from under-sevens T-ball through to the seniors competitions.

This year the Greenway Giants had a fantastic season. Both the men's and women's A-grade teams won their grand finals last summer. I was delighted to recently give Local Sporting Champions awards to several under-12 players whose representative teams came third in the national championships. The under-14s team is equally as talented. Six of the Giants joined the rep team which came second at the national championships. Four of the first-grade women are members of the Australian baseball team.

Such is the generous spirit of the Greenway Giants that they offered me the opportunity to throw out the first pitch of their annual Greenies tournament, held on the long weekend in October. This wonderful local event attracted more than 30 teams from New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland. Next year, they hope to have international teams join them.

I want to acknowledge the hard work of the Greenway Giants club committee, in particular its president, Joe Nati, and the vice-president, Steve Hainsworth. The standout appeal of their major contest is that it is run entirely by dedicated volunteers. The club is fuelled by the passion of local residents for their sport and their community. Congratulations to the Greenway Giants.