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Local Legends

Local Legends
  • 24th March 2026 Lake Macquarie is stronger when community organisations step up to support and connect local people, and I acknowledge Community Activities Lake Macquarie Inc (CALM), for taking on and reopening the B...
  • 24th March 2026 To be named Lake Macquarie's Young Ambassador, a young person must demonstrate exceptional leadership, strong values and a genuine commitment to their community. This year, that honour has gone to...
  • 17th March 2026 I am proud to recognise Chris Gavenlock as the 2026 Local Woman of the Year for Lake Macquarie, an incredible achievement that reflects her tireless commitment to our community. For nearly 30 years, C...
  • 17th March 2026 I congratulate Mahdis Niroomand Komsari from Heritage College Lake Macquarie whose striking HSC Visual Arts work has been selected for the prestigious FIRST Class 25 Exhibition at the Lake Macquarie A...
  • 17th March 2026 Good art doesn't just depict history, it challenges how we understand it. I congratulate Zoe Bakker from Lake Macquarie High School, who has achieved exactly that, through the creation of her majo...
  • 10th February 2026 It is my great honour to congratulate Dr Gordon Robert Campbell OAM, of Cooranbong, on being awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in the 2026 Australia Day Honours. This recognition acknowledge...
  • 10th February 2026 I am pleased to congratulate Mr Gary Neville Mitchell OAM from Woodrising on being awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in the 2026 Australia Day Honours, in recognition of his outstanding serv...
  • 05th February 2026 I would like to acknowledge the remarkable career and recent achievements of Carolyn Frame, lead instructress at Coal Point Physie. For the past 55-years, Carolyn has dedicated her life to teaching yo...
  • 05th February 2026 I would like to acknowledge Sandie Redman, owner of Café 2283 in Toronto, for her outstanding commitment to supporting our local community throughout 2025. Sandie is a small business owner who ...
  • 04th February 2026 "There is no option, but to move forward". These were the words Chloe Parker would quietly repeat as a teenager, facing illness no young person should have to endure. At 17, while studying a...
  • 04th February 2026 For many years, Kifi Hale has been a familiar and welcomed face across Lake Macquarie, the Hunter Valley and the Central Coast. Kifi is the driving force behind The Heartland Foundation and can often ...
  • 04th February 2026 Late last year, I had the privilege of meeting two outstanding young men, Michael Dearing and Coden Smith, proud members of the 1st Byattunga Scout Group at Morisset, as they were presented with King&...
  • 03rd February 2026 I acknowledge the proud local achievement by Aiden Gould from Lake Macquarie Junior Rugby Club, who has recently returned from a 14-day international rugby tour of England, Ireland and Scotland with t...
  • 03rd February 2026 I would like to recognise an outstanding young man from our community, Morisset High School student, Jarvis Watson, who has achieved something truly remarkable. Jarvis has been selected for the presti...
  • 03rd February 2026 Police work is tough at the best of times, and it's all too rare that our boys and girls in blue receive the recognition they so rightly deserve. I congratulate Senior Constable Tony Blyth, from t...
  • 19th November 2025 People in crisis are often forced to make the heartbreaking decision of surrendering their pets, just when the unconditional love and support of their animals is most needed. This reality is experienc...
  • 21st October 2025 Lake Macquarie's Lisa Greissl is known for making a splash both in and out of the water and she's now made her mark on the international stage, securing a podium finish at the 2025 World Rowin...
  • 14th October 2025 I congratulate the dedicated team of volunteers behind NourishEd Australia on reaching a significant milestone, namely the first anniversary since opening their doors in Toronto. Under the leadership ...
  • 11th September 2025 For the past 60 years, members of the Toronto and District Brass Band have brought a little bit of musical magic to a myriad of Lake Macquarie events. Whether it's through annual performances at A...
  • 10th September 2025 Some desperately needed new homes are becoming available in Lake Macquarie, and it's all thanks to the efforts of Lake Macquarie Landcare. Coordinator Simon Lubinski says the inspired and cost-eff...
  • 10th September 2025 For the past 60 years Morisset High School has served western Lake Macquarie as an educational centre of excellence, inclusion and student empowerment. Under the guidance of Principal Darren Brailey, ...
  • 10th September 2025 As we inch closer to the bushfire season, I congratulate the Wyee Point Rural Fire Brigade for taking proactive action to ensure their station can remain operational during anticipated summer-time bla...
  • 09th September 2025 I congratulate Aunty Selena Archibald, Aboriginal Education Officer at Morisset High School, on receiving the prestigious Aboriginal Education Award at the 2025 Newcastle NAIDOC Awards. Aunty Selena i...
  • 09th September 2025 An awesome foursome is about to take on the world-first, record breaking challenge of riding a Quad Tandem Bike from Perth to Sydney, in a bid to raise $500,000 for suicide prevention education and ch...
  • 09th September 2025 Engaging with the next generation of leaders is one of the most rewarding parts of being a Member of Parliament. Recently 88 young leaders from across 73 electorates, had the opportunity to speak and ...
  • 26th June 2025 I would like to recognise and celebrate the life of Douglas Saxon from Fishing Point, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in this year's King's Birthday Honours, f...
  • 26th June 2025 I would like to acknowledge and congratulate Stephen Raymond of Dora Creek, for being awarded the Emergency Services Medal in this year's King's Birthday Honours. This is a significant achieve...
  • 24th June 2025 Lake Macquarie was hit hard by severe weather and flooding in May, with the SES Lake Macquarie Cluster responding to 806 requests for help, including 15 flood rescues and one evacuation.The SES Lake...
  • 03rd June 2025 I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Ron Hansard of Kilpatrick Court Residential Aged Care in Toronto, who turns 100 on the 7th June 2025.I've known of Ron for many years, as he takes an act...
  • 03rd June 2025 The May 2025 floods wreaked havoc in Lake Macquarie, particularly for those living in Dora Creek and Cooranbong.As bad as it was, this natural disaster would have been immeasurably worse if not for ...