I attended the Richmond Valley Australia Day celebrations at Woodburn. It was a great day.

It was wonderful to see all the award nominees and recipients from our Australia Day Awards.

Congratulations to Richmond Valley Council awardees: Brian O’Farrell (Citizen of the Year), Aideen Yourell (Young Citizen of the Year), Bill Bartier (Volunteer of the Year), Nicholas Cobrelli Adams (Young Volunteer of the Year), Robert Johnston (Sportsperson of the Year) and Jakob Jolley (Young Sportsperson of the Year).

Congratulations also to the Kyogle Australia Day awardees: Roslyn Knights (Citizen of the Year), Vic Walters (Senior Citizen), Ebony Lavelle (Junior Citizen), Amber Bryant (Senior Sportsperson), Eloise Crawter (Senior Student), Bridgette Hoffman (Junior Sportsperson), Thomas Masters and Tegan Pederson (Joint Junior Students), Oliver Rixon (Minor Sportsperson), Ella Day (Minor Student of the Year).

You are all inspirational people to others in our community and I thank you.

Welcome also to all our new citizens who took the oath on Australia Day.

I would also like to acknowledge the local Woodburn businesses which decorated their shopfronts in celebration of our national day. I was one of the judges who had a very difficult task.

XXXX

I will be attending the opening of the new Casino Men’s Shed at the Showground today.

The Men’s Shed does a great job and I would like to thank the executive lead by President Dean Box and all the volunteers.

Last year, I secured a grant of more than $5000 to install a kitchen in the Shed.

XXXX

I attended the official opening of Coraki’s new SES headquarters this week.

The SES volunteers do a wonderful job keeping us safe during storms and other emergencies.

This new facility will allow them to do their job even better.

I would like to thank all the volunteers, as well as SES Regional controller Andrew McPhee and unit controller George Smart.

XXXX

Congratulations to Jack McLean from Casino Town Tennis Club who was named the ANZ Tennis Hot Shot of the Year at Australian Open 2017.

The award is given to a young person who demonstrates their enthusiasm, enjoyment of the game and holds sportsman-like qualities. Jack was selected as the winner by a panel of judges from Tennis Australia and program sponsor, ANZ.

Well done Jack.

XXX