Wednesday, 10 September 2025

 Nicole WERNER (Warrandyte) (10:21): I rise to speak to the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee report. First of all, I will just say thank you to the member for Tarneit. I will give thanks where thanks are due. The member for Lara is actually the chair of my committee, the Economy and Infrastructure Committee.

Dylan Wight: Sorry.

Nicole WERNER: That is all right. The chair that you speak to is actually from the Environment and Planning Committee. The chair is the member for Wendouree, and I will have you know that the member for Wendouree and I did not go to school together per se but we are from the same school. I like to tell people in her electorate that we went to school together. We both went to Presbyterian Ladies’ College in Burwood East. Anyway, credit where credit is due. I originally hailed from the Environment and Planning Committee, and I know so because that was actually the first inquiry I was part of a report for when I was first elected to Parliament. So there you go.

Anyway, the report that I am speaking about is Gambling and Liquor Regulation in Victoria: A Follow up of Three Auditor-General Reports, specifically subsection 3.6.1, as it relates to well-regulated bars and pubs. I could think of one such in my electorate, and that is the Grand, Warrandyte, who I would love to give a big shout-out to, as they just celebrated their 130th birthday. How incredible is that. It is an institution and an icon in our community, from Friday night drinks with your friends to first birthday parties, to Sunday live music sessions and to community group functions. It is the place to be. To general manager Peter Appleby and his team: I thank you from the bottom of my heart. You are a champion in our community. Peter is one of those people that everybody knows in the community. If you know Warrandyte, where it is a township and everyone knows everyone, there are these community legends that do so much for our area, and Peter is one of those people. He goes above and beyond to serve the community, and he has been at the helm of transforming this pub that gives back to our community, that sponsors all our local sports clubs and that is always thinking about how it can help serve. They are just a wonderful, wonderful group that work at the Grand.

As many will know locally, it was a group of locals who chipped in to save this local treasure in 2012. It was thanks to their vision and commitment that it has since thrived. I thank Greg Kennedy, Matthew Graham and Stephen Graham for your vision. We are all the better for it. As I said, the Grand has not only survived but thrived, becoming one of Victoria’s most awarded venues. Their accolades include being named Overall Hotel of the Year in metro Victoria as a state finalist four years running from 2021 to 2025, and Outstanding Community Service and Achievement national winner in 2024. They have been twice recognised as the Heart of the Community state winner. They won Triple M’s best pub in 2024, and they have won award after award. I went and presented them with the certificate on behalf of the Victorian Parliament to say thank you for 130 years of service, and there was just not any space to hang it on their walls because they have that many awards to their name. So a big shout-out to them as they celebrate this weekend 130 years – wonderful.

I continue to speak to the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee’s report on its inquiry into gambling and liquor regulation in Victoria, particularly chapter 3.6.1. As I mentioned, this report highlights how important these venues are to our communities, which includes local footy clubs, many of which rely on licensed facilities to fund grassroots sport and bring people together. On that note, I want to congratulate local Tom Ryan on his extraordinary achievement, at 97 years of age, of 54 years of service as the timekeeper for Donvale Football Club. He has officially called time on a remarkable volunteering career that has spanned generations of players, coaches, supporters and families. Tom has been an incredible volunteer for the Donvale footy club, with over 11,000 games under his belt – that is incredible – and 72 years in local footy. And – get this – in 50 years he has not missed one single game. There is even a sign on the timekeepers’ room at the Donvale footy club in Tom’s honour. I want to give you a big shout-out today, Tom. Thank you for your years of service. Thank you for all that you have done for our community.