Sharon Claydon (Newcastle, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's with great pleasure that I rise today to pay tribute to the Mayfield United Junior Soccer Football Club. I had the pleasure of attending their 75th anniversary dinner last Saturday night. I'm the patron of the club, and what I especially love about this club is that it is about as grassroots as you can get in a soccer club. Their commitment to ensuring that they are an inclusive club—they reach out to families with children with special needs and they have an astonishing number of women coming up through their ranks—is a real credit to each and every person involved in the club.

Having a sporting club last 75 years is no mean feat in itself. These clubs are driven entirely by voluntary labour and contributions. They are forever fundraising and working with council to try to ensure that their grounds are up to scratch and they are providing for the needs of their communities. As I said, I've always been really delighted with the club. I've gone to see some games. They have a wildcat cup they play for each year. I went to see that. It was terrific to see girls as young as five running around and learning the joy of being part of a sporting team.