LUGARNO PROGRESS ASSOCIATION EIGHTY-FIRST ANNIVERSARY
ST GEORGE-HURSTVILLE LIONS CLUB SPORTSMEN’S LUNCHEON
Page: 567
Mr GREENE (Georges River) [4.35 p.m.]: Many honourable members take the opportunity to comment on great works done by various volunteer organisations within their electorates. Today, I take the opportunity to comment on the work of two such organisations. The first is the Lugarno Progress Association. I had the privilege and pleasure, along with my wife, Frances, of attending the eighty-first anniversary of that association, which was marked by a river cruise on the Georges River on 30 March this year. That successful function was attended by nearly 200 people from Lugarno and the surrounding community. We travelled on what was affectionately renamed the Lugarno ferry, which cruised westward along the Georges River, giving all who were on the cruise the opportunity to see the Georges River from a different perspective.
The cruise gave us an opportunity not only to socialise and share each other's company on that day, but to gain a different perspective on the river. Eventually the ferry came to the Lugarno area, where we saw the tremendous progress that has taken place on the Edith Bay project, which is significantly funded by both the Hurstville Council and the State Government. It involves boardwalk and wetlands projects on which work has been proceeding rapidly, so much so that it is almost completed.
I congratulate the Lugarno Progress Association on the 81 years that it has been a major contributor to our community through the work that its members continue to do to promote causes not only in Lugarno but throughout the Hurstville city area. I particularly congratulate the current president of the association, Rob Clarson, who has held that position for a number of years, secretary Helen Campbell and all executives on the work they do to promote the causes of the association. They did a wonderful job in organising this magnificent cruise, which I hope will remain a feature of future Lugarno Progress Association anniversary functions. I particularly note the attendance of the function by the Mayor of Hurstville, Councillor Vince Badalati, and his wife Angela. The work that the council does with the progress association has led to many benefits for the community.
Last Friday another charitable organisation that I support, St George-Hurstville Lions, organised a sportsmen's luncheon at the Hill Street venue. St George-Hurstville Lions has been around only a couple of years, but in that time it has put on a number of functions that I have had the pleasure of attending. As with last Friday's event, these are well-organised and well-presented functions. The guest speaker on Friday was well-known Sydney Morning Herald journalist and former Australian Rugby Union representative Peter FitzSimons. Those in attendance—more than 100 local businessmen and community members—were entertained by Peter's stories and comments. I appreciated the opportunity to share the luncheon with him. I congratulate Lions in general but particularly Roger Gray, the master of ceremonies at the function and a long-time friend of Peter FitzSimons. Roger not only did the introductions and kept the whole function moving along, but also organised Peter's attendance on the day.
The auction, which is traditional at such functions, was very successful. The sum raised by the general auction and the silent auction added to the day's fundraising, which I believe totalled close to $15,000. This money will be donated to the Prostate Cancer Institute, which is being set up at the St George Hospital. That is a worthwhile cause. As the great majority of those attending the function were male, they were most supportive of the event. The institute promises to do enormous work in its research. I congratulate the President of St George-Hurstville Lions, Mr John Harrison, on this effort. We look forward to attending many more functions of this Lions club and the Prostate Cancer Institute.