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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 6 Hansard (14 May) . . Page.. 1588 ..

MR SMYTH (continuing):

Mr Speaker, the awards acknowledge the very important role that clubs play in the Canberra community. They acknowledge the part that clubs play in our social life and the contribution they make in putting something back into the community-a role that Canberrans are justly proud of.

I want to put on the record of this place the winners of some of the awards. It is important that we acknowledge those that achieve in the community in looking after us. The Community Assistance Award for a medium-sized club went to Eastlake. The award in the large club category went to the Canberra Labor Club. The small category recipient of the Promotion of Sport Award went to the Murrumbidgee Country Club; the medium category went to the West Belconnen Leagues Club; and the large category went to the Ainslie Football Club.

The Member Services Award for a medium club went to West Belconnen Leagues Club and in the large category it went to the Canberra Southern Cross Club. The Staff Development and Training Award is particularly important, given the interest that members of this place have in the VET sector. The medium club category of this award went to Royals and the large club category went to the Canberra Labor Club.

The medium category of the Club Development Award went to West Belconnen Leagues Club and the large category went to the Ainslie Football Club. The winner of the Club Dining: Restaurant Award-and bear in mind that the Brumbies are playing this weekend-was Signatures Restaurant at the Brumbies Club in Griffith. The Club Dining: Bistro Award went to Choices at the Ainslie Football Club. The Club Dining: Functions Award went to the Hellenic Club-and I think they did themselves proud at the awards function.

I think everybody was particularly pleased that the recipient of the Outstanding Service Award went to Barbara Byrne of the Canberra Labor Club. Barbara can be particularly proud of receiving the award. I do not think it would be an understatement to say that she is a lady who has slaved incredibly hard over the years to support her club and, through her club, the entire club sector and the Canberra community.

The People's Choice Award-the club selected by the people-went to the Canberra Southern Cross Club, as did the Young Achiever of the Year Award. It is great to see that ClubsACT do promote young staff members who are seeking a career in the clubs. The winner of that award went to Matt Walsh, who runs the yacht club part of the Canberra Southern Cross Club. So congratulations to Matt; he does a tremendous job. The awards presentation culminated in the ACT Club of the Year Award, which went to the Ainslie Football Club. So, well done the Ainslie Football Club.

I think everybody was absolutely delighted with the function. Let me say to the Chief Executive of ClubsACT, Bob Samarcq, "Well done in what you have been able to achieve in the last couple of years as the CEO and we look forward to more in the future."

One of the highlights of the night was when Cecilia Doyle, the Operations Manager of ClubsACT, was dragged up onto the stage. The delightful Egyptian theme at the function was apparently her brainchild. Not only did she think about it, but she put it together. She

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