Tuesday, 13 August 2019


Members statements

Casey Titans basketball and Casey Eagles soccer clubs


Casey Titans basketball and Casey Eagles soccer clubs

Ms RICHARDS (Cranbourne) (13:19): I rise to tell you of the terrific honour I had of joining my favourite young people at an awards night for the Casey Titans. The Casey Titans basketball and Casey Eagles soccer clubs were started by Nyuon Makuei to nurture and develop the students’ unique talents and gifts to create an inclusive, multicultural Australia. These young men and women, mostly of Cranbourne, are amazing ambassadors for our Casey community, so it was a great privilege to join them for their awards night dinner. Most of the young people have South Sudanese heritage.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the students and recognise the nominees for the Dr Leek Makuei award for academic excellence: Sarah Gony, Pinyjwok Amum, Deng Makuei and Fogi Obai. Congratulations to Akau Majok from St Peter’s College, Cranbourne, for winning this award.

I would like to recognise the nominations for the Kuany Kuany award: Tam Ndebele, Ajok Malou, Teggywok Otaw and Wal Deng. I congratulate Latio Eyabo from St Peter’s College for winning this award. It was a great joy for me to share in this evening and to support their journey to participate in the National Junior Classic tournament in Sydney. I followed their road trip on Facebook and was so pleased to see the young men sightseeing, cooking and enjoying spending time together.

I would like to pay credit to our South Sudanese leaders, including Dr Leek Makuei,·Andrew Gai, Nyuon Makuei and St Peter’s own Deng Chuor, and St Peter’s principal, Chris Black, for his commitment to these wonderful young people. The clubs are a credit to our community, to their families, their school and their club. I am proud to have them in our community.