Fiona Phillips (Gilmore, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Our volunteer surf lifesavers play an essential role in saving lives and promoting water safety, health and wellbeing. Our Surf Life Saving clubs bring thousands of locals together and play an essential role in our community. With more than 5,000 members on the South Coast, it is one of the largest local volunteer organisations. The Surf Life Saving movement provides support to our local hospitality and tourism industries by making our beaches safer. They also provide training and skills development for all ages, from nippers right up to the masters and elite levels.

Recently I attended the South Coast Surf Life Saving annual awards evening. It was an honour to be present at this evening, with so many people who serve our community so well.

During the election, I had the pleasure of working with local surf lifesavers, and I was delighted that the government has matched Labor's commitment to a new training centre for South Coast Surf Life Saving in Nowra. This project will benefit all local surf lifesaving clubs on the South Coast, providing better training and administrative facilities. I pay tribute to Steve Jones and his entire executive team for driving this project. I would like to especially thank each of our local clubs, their leadership and volunteers.