Local Legends

Local Legends
  • 6th August 2024 It's no secret Lake Macquarie is in dire need of more health care professionals and facilities, that's why it's so good to hear when residents are able to respond to a call for help during... more
  • 6th August 2024 Cooranbong Public School was the first school established in Lake Macquarie, opening its doors to 38 students in 1861. Over the past 163 years, the school has served generations of families and develo... more
  • 21st June 2024 I would like to acknowledge a truly outstanding achievement by Jessica and Wade Tracey, owners of the Morisset Newsagency, who for the second year in a row have been named Newsagent of the Year by the... more
  • 21st June 2024 It is with great sadness that I note the passing of a stalwart of the Lake Macquarie community, Ron Mitcherson. His life was one of exemplified courage, service and sacrifice. As a young man Ron serve... more
  • 18th June 2024 I would like to congratulate Lake Macquarie's very own wildlife warrior Audrey Koosmen who was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in this year's Kings Birthday Honours, for her services to a... more
  • 4th June 2024 There's no doubt Lake Macquarie is one of the most naturally beautiful areas in our state, but like everywhere the aesthetic can take a hit when marred by rubbish left around by careless individua... more
  • 14th May 2024 Since 1955 residents of New South Wales have been able to turn to the State Emergency Service in times of need, whether it's during or after devastating storms, floods or other natural disasters, ... more
  • 9th May 2024 I acknowledge the passing of former member for Charlton and my friend Kelly Joy Hoare. Kelly was elected to the House of Representatives for Charlton for the Australian Labor Party in 1998 and held th... more
  • 7th May 2024 Today I wish to acknowledge the volunteers behind the Heaven Can Wait – Charity Sailing Regatta, who for nearly two decades have filled their sails with the winds of generosity and raised desper... more
  • 7th May 2024 Lake Macquarie is home to one of Australia's best mountain bike parks, namely the Awaba Mountain Bike Park, which is run and maintained by the Hunter Mountain Bike Association. Recently the Associ... more
  • 7th May 2024 I would like to acknowledge the remarkable achievements and dedication to music education of Trish O'Hearn, musical director of Catalina Brass and Principal cornet of Toronto Brass. Trish is an ex... more
  • 20th March 2024 Figure skating is one of the most physically demanding sports there is, as it requires participants to not only have excellent physical fitness, but also balance, strength, timing and coordination ski... more
  • 20th March 2024 I would like to congratulate the extremely talented Emma Dundas from Awaba, who at just 16-years of age has secured a full two-year contract with the Newcastle Jets A-League Women's side. Emma is ... more
  • 20th March 2024 I was recently invited to be the guest speaker at a Lions Club of Toronto meeting, and while I enjoyed talking with members about the big things happening in Lake Macquarie, I was blown away to h... more
  • 13th March 2024 I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the newly elected primary school leadership team at Avondale School. Alannah Morton and Samuel Renshaw have won the respect and trust of their pe... more
  • 13th March 2024 Being elected to a high school leadership position is an honour and is the ultimate vote of confidence in these young people's ability to lead the student body and represent their school with inte... more
  • 13th March 2024 I would like to extend my congratulations to the newly elected 2024 Captains of St Paul's Catholic College Booragul. This school has an excellent reputation in the Lake Macquarie community, of pro... more
  • 12th March 2024 I would like to extend my congratulations to the newly elected student leaders at Charlton Christian College. The 2024 Senior School Student Leadership team includes Jacob Ashley Brown, Vienna Chalmer... more
  • 12th March 2024 I would like to extend my congratulations to the six Lake Macquarie High School students who have been elected chosen as its 2024 school leaders. For the first time since 2014, Lake Macquarie High Sch... more
  • 12th March 2024 Year 11 students at Toronto High School had their first taste of politics late last year when they engaged in a vigorous election process for the highly coveted positions on the school 2024 leadership... more
  • 7th February 2024 I would like to recognise the efforts of one of Lake Macquarie's quiet achievers Ken Doolan from Marmong Point. Ken has spent countless hours over the past 14 years developing, managing and mainta... more
  • 6th February 2024 It's no secret that New South Wales is in the midst of a trade-skills shortage, so it is heartening to hear one young Lake Macquarie resident is shaping up to be the best in the world at her chose... more
  • 6th February 2024 I would like to recognise the efforts of Paul Johnson from Killingworth, who for nearly two decades has nurtured and guided teenagers not only through high school, but also the challenging Duke of Edi... more
  • 26th February 2020 I wish to acknowledge Bob Marks and Karl Zalewski who have proven that good things can often come from heartbreaking tragedy.Last November, Simon Marks suffered a fatal heart attack while playing cr... more
  • 25th February 2020 I wish to acknowledge the wonderful work of Coal Point resident Erica Henley and a small group of volunteers behind Operation Hope in Lake Macquarie.Operation Hope, founded by Erica in 2017, has bee... more
  • 14th November 2019 Avondale University has been an important and integral part of the Lake Macquarie community for more than 122 years, but I'm very pleased to inform the House that the college is now known as the A... more
  • 15th October 2019 I wish to acknowledge the efforts of Morisset teenager Jack Callaghan who recently became the youngest ever winner of Newcastle Harness Racing's driver's premiership.Jack was aged just 17 wh... more
  • 26th September 2019 I wish to acknowledge a wonderful member of the Dora Creek community who caused quite a stir last week when he hung up his butcher's apron for a life in retirement.Brian Finlay has been a butche... more
  • 19th September 2019 I wish to acknowledge and congratulate the Dora Creek Swampies who broke a 13-year drought at the weekend and won Newcastle and Hunter Rugby League's A-grade grand final.The Swampies took an arm... more
  • 18th September 2019 I wish to acknowledge the wonderful community spirit of Lynne Turner from Coal Point.Lynne has been an active member of the Lake Macquarie Garden Club for 16 years and has served several terms on th... more