In the News
The visit by the Shadow Minister for Seniors, Bronwyn Bishop MP, to Castle Hill was an important opportunity for local seniors to take their concerns directly to the Shadow Minister, said the Federal Member for Mitchell, Alex Hawke.
Mrs Bishop visited the Anglican Retirement Village at Castle Hill and also attended a forum and afternoon tea at the Harvey Lowe Pavilion at the Castle Hill Showground. More than 100 local seniors attended the forum and issues discussed with Mrs Bishop included pensions, superannuation, and increased charges and the cost of living.
“Bronwyn Bishop is deeply committed to helping seniors and I know she was greatly impressed with the feedback she received at Castle Hill,” Mr Hawke said.
“Seniors in the Hills share many of the concerns of seniors right around Australia, although there are some issues, such as local bus services, which particularly affect us here in the Hills.”
Mr Hawke said that he had been seeking to have Mrs Bishop visit the Hills to discuss local seniors concerns since her appointment to the Shadow Ministry by Opposition Leader Tony Abbott in December last year.
“Our seniors contribute so much to our local community. Without the volunteer work seniors undertake, the Hills would definitely be worse off.
“I wanted Mrs Bishop to hear first-hand not only the challenges our seniors face, but also their successes. I am sure the views of local Hills seniors will be of great value to her as she continues the Coalition’s development of new policy for seniors.”
Mr Hawke thanked all local residents who were able to attend the forum for their honest and sometimes direct comments about available Government services and programs and said he expected Mrs Bishop will visit the Hills again in the near future.
Monday, 31 May 2010
Mr HAWKE (Mitchell) (6.43 pm)—I rise tonight to speak about the successful year of The Hills Swimming and Life Saving Club in my electorate of Mitchell. The club was formed in early 1967 with the name ‘The Hills Amateur Swimming Club’. The word ‘amateur’ was, of course, compulsory in those days. In 1998 it was changed to ‘The Hills Swimming Club’, and then, in 2006, to ‘The Hills Swimming and Life Saving Club. It is based centrally in Baulkham Hills and run by a fantastic committee of volunteers. It used to be the biggest swimming club in New South Wales, with over 700 members in the seventies. The lifesaving club, of course, is affiliated with the Royal Life Saving Society, whose headquarters is in my electorate of Mitchell. Classes have been held for the first season this year.
I want to offer congratulations on the presentation this year of the Derek Emery trophy to Eleanor Marshall and the Denis Robertson Award to Chelsea Podrow. One hundred and ninety-five club records were broken in the 2009-10 season. The club captains for swimming this year are Andrew Payne and Eleanor Marshall. The club captains for lifesaving are Ben Fishburn and Tiarna Jones. It was fantastic to attend the presentation, along with around 200 parents and committed volunteers.
Club membership is growing. It is such a fantastic club, and I want to congratulate all of the parents, the
hardworking coaches and staff at the club, the committee, the dedicated volunteers, the swimmers and, of course, the life members—the life members being Graham Taylor, Alan Kerruish, Pauline Alan, Bernie Boyle, Marilyn Tobin, Damian Hofman and Melanie Williams. This is a fantastic club. It fits in with the fine tradition of volunteerism in my electorate, and I endorse it thoroughly in the 2009-10 season.
24 May 2010
Mr HAWKE (Mitchell) (4.12 pm)—I rise today to record my congratulations to the Hills Relay for Life, which was held at the Castle Hill Showground on 15 to 16 May. This was the ninth year of the Hills Relay for Life event, held at the Castle Hill Showground, and this year I can report that over $200,000 was raised in support of the Cancer Council, with local business groups, community groups and people of all ages showing their support for those with cancer and their families, friends and carers. This has become an iconic event in the Hills community.
I want to firstly thank and congratulate Bev Jordan for an amazing effort as chairwoman of the 2010 Relay for Life.
Each year since I have been elected I have had a team in the Relay for Life, and this team has also helped raise money for the community. This year’s event, however, was one of the biggest and best relays we have run in the Hills district.
I also want to congratulate committee members James Butler, Cathy Aird, Bryan Mullan, Samantha Connor, Lynn Pike, Richard Tarlinton, Michael and Natalie Ball, Councillors Tony and Andrew Hay, Chris Cleary, Katie and Ruth Didsbury, Helen Gooden, Robin George, Aimee Holdsworth, Denise Daynes, Andrew Bronier, Erica Wadlow, Taylor page, Alison Harper, Jillian Carpenter, Councillor Michelle Bryne, Dave Power, Nicole Stap, Christine Zec and Sue O’Neill. There are so many names there because it is such a well-patronised and supported event by all elements of our community. I want to particularly mention Jason Francis, who is a 14-year-old boy from Castle Hill High School. He walked 200 kilometres from Bathurst to Castle Hill. He raised over $22,000 in sponsorship for his 200-kilometre walk, which was a fantastic achievement.
I want to congratulate Team Bunny, who won the Team Spirit Award. They were a fantastic team, serving soup throughout the night as it got down to very cold temperatures, as it does every year. This year we had over 100 teams participating in the Hills Relay for Life. Some of the teams were Castle Hill High School, Castle Hill Public School, Northholm Grammar, St George Bank Castle Hill—who, incidentally, won the Relay for Life Community Spirit Award for Business—St George Bank, Hornsby 1st Castle Hill Scout Group, 1st Kellyville Scout Group, Hills Shire Times, Hills News, Castle Hill RSL, Samuel Gilbert Public School and St John’s Ambulance.
Moving around the Relay for Life on that weekend and talking to the carers, the survivors, the friends and the families was a moving experience. I want to mention one particular incident, in meeting a woman at a stall whom I bought some raffle tickets from. She was a very cheerful woman. I asked where the money was going, and she said, ‘Me and my friend have had brain tumours for the last five years.’ I said, ‘Five years?’ This woman was diagnosed five years ago with a brain tumour and has had 68 courses of chemotherapy, and the joy and sense of life that I got from this woman was absolutely amazing. It was a very inspiring story, and I want to record my congratulations to her for her fight and struggle against cancer, which is ongoing.
This is a wonderful event. We will find a cure for cancer through the initiative of the community and the generosity of so many community members, businesses and charities. I want to congratulate all of the Hills community, carers, survivors’ families and friends.
The spirit of the Hills community was on clear display at the ninth Relay for Life event held at the Castle Hill Showground.
The enthusiasm in raising over $200,000 in funds for the Cancer Council was matched by the commitment to support those with cancer, their families, friends and carers.
Thank you to the organisers, the volunteers, sponsors and team members whose commitment made this such a great community event. We are truly fortunate in the Hills to have so many people who willingly give up their time for important events such as the Relay for Life.
Congratulations to Jason Francis and Ingrid Helf who walked from Bathurst to Castle Hill Showground to raise funds for the fight against cancer. Mention should also be made of Team Bunny who were the winners of the inaugural team spirit award.
12 May 2010
The Federal Member for Mitchell, Alex Hawke, was this week elected as the Deputy Chair of the Federal Parliament’s new Joint Select Committee on Cyber-Safety.
The terms of reference cover a broad spectrum of issues, including methods and approaches to combating online threats.
“The online environment has provided a tremendous means of communication and an unprecedented exchange of information and ideas,” Mr Hawke said.
“There are also well-known threats, and how we protect ourselves and our children from illegal and inappropriate content is one of the great challenges we face in coming years.”
Mr Hawke thanked the many local residents who have passed their opinions regarding cyber-safety issues to him. In particular there has been a growing concern about the Government’s plans to filter the internet.
“There is a clear and deeply held concern in the community about how we protect ourselves and our children in the online environment,” Mr Hawke said.
“However this concern is matched by fears that in protecting ourselves, we might enact draconian methods which might not work as intended, would censor the internet, and prevent access to legal and inoffensive content.
“I look forward to working as Deputy Chair if the Cyber-Safety Committee, and will bring the views and concerns of residents throughout the Hills community to my work in this role,” Mr Hawke said.
More information regarding the Cyber-Safety Committee, including the terms of reference are available at: http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/jscc/tor.htm
The Committee consists of twelve Members of Parliament and Senators. Convention has that a Government Member or Senator is appointed as Committee Chair and an Opposition Member or Senator as Deputy Chair.