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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 05 Hansard (Friday, 14 May 2004) . . Page.. 2096 ..

ClubsACT awards for excellence

MRS CROSS (1.17 am): Mr Speaker, I want to speak about the recent ClubsACT awards for excellence for 2004. The Hellenic Club of Canberra finally won some very well deserved awards, in addition to other clubs, but I must mention that the Hellenic Club had been mentioned for many years.

Mr Hargreaves: Like the Burns Club and the Labor Club.

MRS CROSS: I will mention those, if you will be quiet.

Mr Hargreaves: The poker machine riddled Labor Club.

MR SPEAKER: Order! Mrs Cross has the floor.

MRS CROSS: He cannot help himself, Mr Speaker. Australia’s largest ethnic club, the Hellenic Club, which has just celebrated its 25th anniversary, also took out the awards for the most popular club, best club for functions, and best restaurant in a club. Its president, Michael George, was presented with the outstanding service award for his services to the Hellenic Club. Over 550 people attended that night. Almost every member of this Assembly was there as a guest of ClubsACT. I thank ClubsACT for their hospitality.

There were 19 awards presented and nine commendations. I would like to acknowledge some of the clubs that received those awards. The competition was spirited in the large club division, with the Hellenic Club, the Canberra Southern Cross Club, the Vikings group, the Canberra Labor Club group, and the Ainslie Football and Social Club all receiving awards.

In the medium club division, West Belconnen Leagues Club, the Mawson Club and the Burns Club shared the honours. West Belconnen Leagues Club was named club of the year in the medium division. The three dining awards were also keenly contested, with Citrus Cafe at the Mawson Club winning the club dining bistro in the under-200 category and the bistro at the Hellenic Club taking out the over-200 category.

The best restaurant in a club went to Trattoria at the Hellenic Club. Danielle Baguley of the Canberra Labor Club won the young achiever award for her personal contribution to the club’s operations and made a very fine speech for such a young woman. I was very impressed.

As an Australian of Greek origin, I was extremely proud not only of the awards in general, but also of the success of the Hellenic Club of Canberra. Michael George, the president of the Hellenic Club, who has provided outstanding service to the club for over 25 years, well deserved the outstanding service award. I really must acknowledge Darryl Bozicevic, the CEO of the Hellenic Club, who has helped progress the club in a great way.

It is important that people realise—I think that Mr Smyth touched on this in an adjournment debate a couple of months ago when the Hellenic Club had its

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