Jerome Laxale (Bennelong, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm very proud to be able to stand today and talk about the Ryde Dragon Boat Club, a local club based in my electorate of Bennelong. Ryde Dragon Boat Club was established in October 2021. They only started racing together as a team last season. In less than two years they've grown immensely and now, in their second season, they are even being internationally recognised.

Six members from the Ryde Dragon Boat Club earned the privilege to don the coveted green and gold uniforms as part of the Aussie Auroras. These remarkable individuals have recently returned home from Thailand, where they proudly represented Australia at the 16th World Dragon Boat Racing Championships. I would like to take a moment to honour each of them and what they achieved over there at the world championship. We had Fiona Wells-Dimech, who got seven medals; George Dimech, six medals; Peter Fox, four medals; Joel McCarthy, six medals; and Bella Taranto, seven medals—and a special mention to Wayne Davison, who just missed out. That's right: the Ryde Dragon Boat Club brought 30 medals back home to Bennelong. Congratulations to them for their outstanding achievements at the World Dragon Boat Championships but also for bringing our community together each and every weekend. There are people who just give Dragon boating a go. It's a great way to get together, get some exercise and stay fit. Give it a go if you haven't already. It's down at Putney Park in Bennelong. It's a beautiful day out on the river.