HANSARD EXTRACT
| Statements
by Members: Mr Paul Lake |
| 1 November 2006 |
Mr HAYES
(Werriwa)
(9.32
a.m.)—Last
Saturday evening, I had the distinct honour to attend the annual
presentation night for the Western Suburbs District Junior Rugby
League. It was a fantastic night, attended by over 400 people
representing every rugby league club within the district. The night
was to recognise champions amongst the code. I had the very distinct
honour to make a special presentation of the sports achievement
award to a person nominated by the board of the junior league as
having made an outstanding contribution to the code.
For the past 22 years,
Paul Lake has been a dedicated volunteer to junior rugby league
assisting children and their families within the community. In 1989,
he was largely instrumental in forming the Western Suburbs District
Junior Rugby League board and was subsequently appointed chairman of
that board, a position that he held until 1999. His achievements and
commitment to the sport and to the youth of the area were recognised
in 1996 when he was awarded life membership of the Western Suburbs
District Junior Rugby League.
Because of other commitments, unfortunately, he resigned from the
junior rugby league in 2004, but nevertheless he had a very big
year.
Paul
Lake was elected that year to the board of Western Suburbs Leagues
Club as a director. He was appointed delegate to the Western Suburbs
Leagues Club sports council. He was appointed to the board of Wests
Tigers, which was the premiership-winning side in 2005. If that was
not enough,
Paul
was also elected in 2004 as a councillor on the Campbelltown City
Council, where, amongst other things, he continued to play a strong
role in supporting the youth of our region and recognising the
efforts of many volunteers who are the backbone of junior sport
regardless of the code. He is also a delegate to the South West
Academy of Sport.
In 2005,
Paul Lake was elected Deputy Mayor of Campbelltown City Council.
Notwithstanding that he had formally resigned from the board of the
junior league, Paul still turned up on weekends to assist all those
volunteers without whose effort local sport, particularly sport in
relation to the youth of the area, would not take place. Paul Lake
is a genuine friend to junior sport and all those who make it
possible. To quote the words of the CEO of the junior league, Mrs
Julie Luke, who nominated Paul Lake for the Australian Sports
Achievement Award:
It is difficult to put everything down that Mr Lake has done and
continues to do for the community of Campbelltown, but rest assured
he is a man who we respect and he is our friend.
(Time expired)
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