Alex Hawke (Mitchell, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise today to congratulate my community of Mitchell on a wonderful Australia Day celebration of our contemporary Australian nation and our shared history. I had the opportunity to attend events both in my electorate throughout the Hills District and in Greater Western Sydney. In Parramatta I always speak of the great harmony in Parramatta—an ancient Aboriginal meeting place, a seat of colonial government power throughout the whole of Australia, and a modern, thriving, multicultural city. The ceremony at Parramatta in particular is a seamless example to all of us here in the federal parliament of unity around our shared history and our shared journey together between those three very important themes of modern Australia.

I also want to take a moment to congratulate the Australia Day Honours recipients in my electorate. Lauretta Claus AM was recognised for her significant service to education and to national and international basketball. She began teaching in 1988 and held senior roles as principal and director of educational leadership and many roles within the Department of Education. We've also seen her work internationally in basketball. She was inducted into the basketball hall of fame and became the lead statistics reviewer for the men's and women's basketball world cups.

Bill Henderson OAM was honoured for his outstanding service to football. He was a member of the Socceroos from 1954 to 1956, including during the Olympic Games in Melbourne. This is something that Bill's family have great pride in, and it reflects his induction into the football hall of fame in 1999.

The late Ronald Lord OAM was another Socceroo, from 1951 to 1954. He was goalkeeper for Australia at the Melbourne Olympics in 1956. It was a posthumous award. His family are very proud of Ronald and his service for Australia at this level.

Rob Katz OAM is a very special member of the Hills community, together with his wife. He has a passion for judo and has trained so many young people in judo in our community. He continues to serve in that role. He has competed internationally and has led Olympic teams for Australia to Seoul, Athens, Paris and Hong Kong. He is a two-time silver medallist and four-time bronze medallist at the Australian championships. He has devoted his life to this sport, but he is an integral part of the Mitchell community, well respected, regarded and loved.

Chief Inspector Jenkins APM was awarded the Australian Police Medal for exceptional service. He is an exceptional police officer and continues to ensure the wellbeing of officers in the Hills District and elsewhere in the state.

Sharon Smith PSM was awarded the Public Service Medal for her outstanding service to NSW Health, especially during the COVID pandemic. With 36 years of industry experience as a chief data officer in systems information and analytics at NSW Health, we can't underestimate Sharon's contribution in what is the biggest health crisis of our time, interpreting health data in an era of data driven solutions. I thank Sharon Smith PSM for her great service to health in Australia.

I commend all Australia Day award recipients in my electorate and around the country for their immense service and their ongoing commitment to our nation's cohesion.