Mr HAYES (9:30 AM) —I rise today to congratulate Laurie Hampton of Green Valley for his efforts in my electorate. Laurie is the President of the Green Valley Cricket Club and this week he celebrates his 40th year of service. That is a remarkable achievement by any member of a sporting club, but one that is of particular significance given that Laurie was the very person who started the club in the first place. As a 19-year-old Green Valley local, Laurie was looking for a sport that could cater for the growing number of young residents in the area. Being a keen cricket lover, and not having much success in finding a suitable sporting outlet, Laurie set up the Green Valley Cricket Club with the assistance of a number of close friends. From its humble beginnings back in 1965, the club has grown from struggling to field a team in its inaugural year to boasting eight junior sides and four senior teams last season, a number of which took out their respective premierships.

Laurie’s dedication to the club has not come at the expense of other parts of his life. During his time with the Department of Navy in Sydney, Laurie oversaw the largest peacetime transfer of naval equipment, personnel and logistics undertaken at that time. Of course, Laurie’s attention to detail made sure that the operation was a success and, as a fitting tribute to his oversight of that project, he was awarded a naval commendation. I understand that this award now takes pride of place in Laurie’s lounge room. While his working life may have made way for retirement, Laurie’s cricket continues. He is in his 40th season with the Green Valley Cricket Club and, at the age of 59, he will be lining up to take the field this year and will be looking to score runs and take wickets.

The Laurie Hamptons of this world are the people who should receive our praise for their efforts early and often. Laurie is the sort of person who is best described as a quiet achiever. He has put in the hard yards at grassroots level to keep the cricket club going over many years. This club has provided an outlet for many young people in the Green Valley area. I congratulate Laurie on his contribution to the community of south-western Sydney and I look forward to hearing many reports of huge scores and large wicket hauls as the season progresses. Laurie Hampton truly is a man who has given a great deal to the youth of the area and he typifies the very notion of a community builder.