David Coleman (Banks, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Communications) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Milperra Lions Soccer Club was formed back in 1958, and, during that time, it has become an absolutely essential part of the Milperra community. It was great to meet at the clubhouse recently with their president, Brad Tonks; Billy Peters; Sean Barnes; Helen Lansley; and Daniela Morrison, amongst others, and really talk about the aspirations of the club. There are a couple of important issues. Gordon Parker Reserve has major problems with drainage where water pools on the field. It doesn't go away and that needs to be fixed. They also need waterproofing for the clubhouse itself. So there are a couple of really important issues that need to be addressed for the Milperra Lions Soccer Club, and I'm very determined to assist the club with those. I thank the club for taking the time for those meetings.

Anne Farah Hill is the incredibly energetic CEO of Kingsgrove Community Aid Centre. She's been in the job for quite a while. She does a fantastic job, and right now there's a big issue at the Kingsgrove Community Aid Centre where the bocce court for the Italian seniors group, which was put there recently by the council, basically doesn't work for the game because it is overgrown. It is not a smooth surface, and it makes it very difficult to play bocce, which is the whole purpose of the court being put there in the first place. Georges River Council needs to actually step up and fix this. It's good that the council took action to put the bocce court there, but they now need to make sure it is actually playable. The council needs to step forward on that.

Recently, St Mark's Anglican Church in South Hurstville merged with Blakehurst Anglican Church. They are both very proud and longstanding religious communities in my electorate. It was good to speak recently with the minister, Ross Ryan, to hear about his plans for the new merged church. St Mark's, which has always been in my electorate, has had a very active role in terms of the community groups that run from the church; the Anzac Day service, which is run every year; the childcare centre, which is run from St Mark's; and so many other things that the church is involved in. It was great to meet with Minister Ryan, and I look forward to seeing that merger continue in the future.

Kogarah Historical Society meets at Carss Park, in a new part of my electorate. It was great to recently meet with the president, Gill Whan, and many other members of the society. There's an incredibly rich and proud history at Carss Park, and the cottage has been preserved largely just as it was back in the 19th century. It was great to learn about that, to see all the artefacts at the museum and to talk to those fantastic volunteers at the Kogarah Historical Society.