Mr ANOULACK CHANTHIVONG (Macquarie Fields—Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading, Minister for Industry and Trade, Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology, Minister for Building, and Minister for Corrections) (22:13): The late, great Rose Kennedy once famously said, "Life isn't a matter of milestones but of moments." That is true. The irony being, of course, that today I will speak about some significant milestones in my local community. Those milestones, worthy as they are, are made up of a series of memorable and wonderful moments—moments that bring people together, moments that reflect our community's resilience and resourcefulness, and moments that honour our community volunteers and their generous gift of time. The culmination of those moments leads to significant community milestones, and I am honoured to highlight some of them in the House tonight.
In July, 1st Ingleburn Scout Group will celebrate 100 years of, for the most part, continuous operation. Scouting in general was placed in recess during World War II. However, Scout members of that time still met and organised activities, albeit unofficially. The Scouts assisted in the war effort by volunteering as messengers for the air raid wardens and delivering messages on their bicycles to the Ingleburn Army Camp. It is a remarkable history, and now 1st Ingleburn Scout Group celebrates a remarkable milestone. The group's longevity is testament to my community's resilience and, of course, to the dedication of this band of volunteers.
In 1962 the Scout hall was extended after the original building moved from Stanley Street, Ingleburn, to its present home at Westland Memorial Park. In late 1985 the hall was extensively damaged by fire. Subsequently, it was rebuilt and reopened in 1986 with the support of the local community and the Australian Army Corps. One of the highlights of the group's esteemed history is that in 1926, 1st Ingleburn Scout Group guarded Sir Kingsford Smith's plane while he visited Springmead, a local property in what is now known as Denham Court. Today the group participates in many community activities, including tree planting, Clean Up Australia Day, catering for park and recreation openings with Landcom, Anzac Day services and citizenship ceremonies in my electorate.
Next year 1st Ingleburn Scout Group will have one of the largest Scout contingents in recent years heading to the twenty-fifth Australian Jamboree in Maryborough, Queensland. Whether attending a jamboree, going on adventures in the State's nature reserves or making new friends, Scouts equips young people with skills for life. The group has had only five group leaders in its 100-year history, which is a remarkable achievement. I had the honour of visiting 1st Ingleburn Scout Group's clubhouse earlier this year and met with some of its committed volunteers. The group received $50,000 in New South Wales government grant funding to refurbish its hall and upgrade its amenities. The group is thrilled with the refurbishment, as it has given the clubhouse a new lease of life just in time for its 100-year milestone celebrations next month—more special moments to be treasured by all involved.
Another group marking a special milestone this year is Softball Campbelltown, which celebrates a remarkable 45 years. Based at Milton Park in the Macquarie Fields electorate, that special milestone is the culmination of many incredible moments. Ms Melanie Roche, considered one of the best pitchers in the world, started at Campbelltown Softball and has played in every Olympic softball competition, winning bronze in Atlanta in 1996, in Sydney in 2000 and in Beijing in 2008, and winning silver in Athens in 2004. Campbelltown Softball's home ground is Milton Park, and after recently visiting the club I can say it is one of the best-looking grounds around. Over the years, Campbelltown Softball has been the proud host venue of State, national and world championships. It is a thriving community association, fostering athleticism and camaraderie. As a proud patron of the club, I commend the association's success and applaud everyone involved in helping achieve this remarkable milestone.
Last year Macquarie Fields Swimming Club celebrated 50 years in the community. The club has 75 members of varying abilities, with ages ranging from six to late seventies. So many organisations with a long history in my community are doing such wonderful work. I commend each and every one of them for their valuable contributions to my community and countless hours of dedication and volunteerism. I trust there will be more memorable moments and special milestones ahead for my local community organisations.
