Ms ALISON MEGARRITY (Menai) [1.24 p.m.]: I have previously informed the House about remarkable Sandy Point in the Menai electorate. Technically it is a suburb, but it has no adjoining suburbs. It is situated in beautiful bushland and bordered on three sides by waters of the Georges River and Deadmans Creek. I have also previously acknowledged the intrepid community spirit of the people who live there. Sandy Pointers protect and enjoy every aspect of the precious environment on their doorstep. So perhaps it is not too surprising that the coinciding opportunities presented by the riverfront location and an abundance of motivation in a relatively small population, have combined to produce a highly successful dragon boat club.

Dragon boating is by nature a social sport requiring large numbers of people. There are 20 paddlers, l0 on each side and two abreast. All paddlers attempt to work in unison, stroking the water at the same time to pull the boat forward. For this reason timing as well as power is required to get the boat moving fast. Typically, there are four to six boats in races of 250 to 1,000 metres, testing the crew's strength to accelerate from the start line and endurance to maintain the boat's speed. As the races are conducted from a standing start, it is an adrenaline-charged and exciting sprint to the finish line. Teams can be categorised into women's, men's or mixed crews.

I attended the third annual general meeting of the Sandy Point Dragons Inc. on Saturday 18 October 2008. Club President, Peter Arnold, started his report with three words, "What a year!" He felt it had been the most successful one so far and in the time I have today I can only give a brief overview of all the achievements. In August 2007 at the Drummoyne 10s regatta, Sandy Point took first place in the premier mixed class. In September 2007, 10 members of the club volunteered as officials to assist in the smooth operation of the International Dragon Boat Federation eighth World Dragon Boat Championships held in Sydney. In the competition Lauren Schwizler and Dana Kalgovas won two silver medals each in the junior division. Between them, Bev and Peter Arnold won four silver and two bronze medals in the Masters. Peter said:

I must say, standing on the dais wearing the green and gold and being presented with the world championship medal has been the pinnacle of my career and I am sure I speak likewise for Bev, Lauren and Dana.

In October 2007 Vic Kalgovas, Bev and Peter Arnold took up a special invitation to paddle with the Australian Navy team and were successful in winning one gold and two silver medals in the masters division. At the Roseville Regatta in November 2007 Sandy Point joined forces with neighbours, the Port Hacking club, achieving first in the premier mixed B final and third in the masters open final. As part of the club's efforts to encourage juniors into this fantastic sport Jarrod Maronski and Dana Kalgovas, Lauren Schwizler and Lachlan Cavanagh competed in the March 2008 Canberra Festival. At the April 2008 Australian championships in Perth nine Sandy Pointers made the State team. That figure is 25 per cent of its membership and the highest representation of any club in New South Wales. Out of six events in the Masters and Grandmasters our State team achieved six gold medals and one bronze medal.

I was honoured to present State representative certificates to Dana, Jennifer and Vic Kalgovas, Peter and Beverley Arnold, John Nichols, Gloria Schwizler, David West and Alastair Paterson in recognition of their participation in the Australian championships. All things considered, President Peter Arnold certainly was not exaggerating when he said that it had been a big year for the Sandy Point Dragons. Special awards were also presented at the annual general meeting for best attendance, rookie, most improved, high achievement, support crew, best female and best male. Coach Vic Kalgovis presented his 2008 award to Dave West, one of nature's true gentlemen and an active participant in the Sandy Point Progress Association too. Vic diplomatically pointed out that Dave is the most senior paddler in the team, yet he is able to make virtually every training session summer and winter. In some other very well chosen words, Vic said:

In life it is easy to sit, do nothing and criticise others, but that won't develop self-esteem and a sense of achievement in our lives. Too many of us sit back and say I'm too old for this, or it's too hard to get up in the morning (even the younger ones), but the reality is that our body adapts to whatever our minds tell it.

Vic concluded his citation with:

Dave is a role model not only to his own generation, but every younger generation and a shining example of what you can achieve when you are young of mind.

Honourable members might give serious consideration to a question posed by the club in a local newsletter, "Are you making any time for your health?" The club contends that dragon boating is a great way to lose weight, get fit, make friends and have fun. Of course, not everyone can have the pleasure of experiencing what they have said is "the fastest growing sport in the world" with this particularly wonderful club. However, knowing the people involved and after seeing some impressive competition photos, I am willing to take their word that it is "serious fun, great fitness training and suitable for people of all ages". I also take this opportunity on behalf of the House to say good luck to the club's members—and, indeed, every club's members—participating in the Pan Pacific Masters Games on the Gold Coast from 1 to 9 November 2008.

Ms SONIA HORNERY (Wallsend—Parliamentary Secretary) [1.29 p.m.]: I congratulate the member for Menai on her motivational speech on the Sandy Point Dragons. It sounds like a wonderful riverfront to visit. I am impressed by the abundant motivation of the Sandy Point Dragons, and I love their dragon boat racing. I congratulate also the Sandy Point Progress Association and commend the many active senior citizens in the Menai electorate.