Tuesday, 12 November 2024

 Melissa HORNE (Williamstown – Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Local Government, Minister for Ports and Freight, Minister for Roads and Road Safety) (13:25): Over the weekend I had the pleasure of attending the official season opening for the Nippers water safety program in Altona and Williamstown, and it was great to be down there. It started out on Williamstown beach, and Jason, Joel and the team organized an amazing smoking ceremony to really start off the Nippers season. It is a fantastic job that they do down there on the beach, and what greater excitement can you have than seeing that first cohort of little Nippers waiting to get their toes into the water. I would like to thank Uncle Mark for giving a fantastic welcome to country. It was wonderful to see so many families and community members come down to celebrate the start of this season. Of course I am still waiting with anticipation for our $11.3 million assistance to the lifesaving club to deliver that new lifesaving club building. On top of that, the lifesaving club will receive an all-terrain vehicle funded by a grant of over $17,000. From there, I went down to Altona Life Saving Club, where many children, families and community members also joined in. We have got a new big Nipper there, Sarah, and I need to pay tribute to Sally for her five years of contribution. It was also lovely to see Barb Morgan, a life member but also an Order of Australia Medal winner with more than 50 years as a lifesaver and a Knight of the Order of Lifesaving.