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North Sydney Bears

Published on: August 2024

Record: HANSARD-1323879322-144448

North Sydney Bears

North Shore Electorate Events

Ms FELICITY WILSON (North Shore) (18:48:11):

There is a sound that can be heard emanating from North Sydney and all across Australia. It is the loud and clear sound of the Bears roaring from North Sydney Oval because from 2027 the Bears will be back in the NRL as the eighteenth team. After 25 years and an immense amount of hard work, a historic joint venture has been announced with Western Australia and soon we will be able to cheer on the Western Bears. North Sydney Oval will always be the spiritual home of the Bears, and families always pack out the hill on the weekend to cheer on their favourite sporting team. After years of support, the dedicated fans have had their patience and persistence rewarded, and we will be able to cheer them on loudly and proudly as they rejoin the NRL competition.

On Sunday I watched the Bears take on Newtown—but maybe Newtown took on the Bears because, although the boys played brilliantly, unfortunately they were not able to come away with the win. The community atmosphere at these games is always incredible. Everyone takes to the field before the game and everyone takes to the field after the game. We all run around and kick a ball. My kids have the best time, and that is the essence of the Bears and our community involvement. When the team goes to the NRL, that spiritual home will always be with us and they will retain their community spirit and ethos.

It has taken decades of tenacity, energy and commitment from the community for the Bears to rejoin the NRL. I acknowledge the incredible hard work of three key people at the Bears: Gareth Holmes, Greg Florimo and Daniel Dickson. I also mention all the players, club members and supporters who sit on the hill at North Sydney Oval and back the Bears week in and week out regardless of how we are performing. I cannot wait to support the Western Bears. I know that west is pretty far from North Sydney, but they will always be our team. Go the Bears! In a couple of weeks we have an exciting event happening at North Sydney Oval: the AFL Women's opener. North Sydney Oval is the home of the Sydney Swans AFLW team and we are so excited that it is becoming the home of women's sport in Sydney. Plenty of red and white supporters will be there to cheer them on as they take play Collingwood on 30 August. I welcome my colleagues to join us. We love North Sydney Oval and we know that nobody loves Collingwood.

On Saturday I joined the Mosman Whales for their Rugby's Ladies Day. I have been to this community event every year for probably the better part of a decade. It is such an enjoyable day out at Rawson Oval, complete with what I would call a gourmet lunch—Chargrill Charlie's from Mosman—drinks, live music and entry to an exclusive afterparty at the much‑loved Buena. I admit that I have never been to the afterparty. I am not sure if I feel a bit too old for it now or if I have not yet reached my prime to join the other ladies at the Buena. Maybe next year. It is an action-packed day of rugby and, most importantly, raising money for the Sydney Breast Cancer Foundation. On Sunday tens of thousands of dollars were raised for the Sydney Breast Cancer Foundation. The foundation has a special place in my heart and my community's heart. While it supports women all across Sydney, it had its genesis in my community, particularly with the Mater Hospital and the Chris O'Brien Lifehouse. Its services have expanded more broadly now.

Every year the Sydney Breast Cancer Foundation is the beneficiary and partner of the Mosman Rugby's Ladies Day. It brings out the pink and blue socks and jerseys and makes sure it does everything it can to support women and men going through breast cancer. The foundation funds the vital work of breast cancer care nurses and also the research fellows who work to support women and men going through breast cancer. The Sydney Breast Cancer Foundation directly invests in the quality, skill and talent of our medical professionals. That is a testament to how many lives of people experiencing breast cancer in 2024 are saved by medical outcomes. Raising funds is so important. I remind everyone that early detection is best. Anybody can get breast cancer self‑check cards from the Sydney Breast Cancer Foundation to make sure they check every month to improve quality of life and survival rates.

Rawson Oval played host to a full fixture of games against Drummoyne, and the Whales put on a show by winning five out of six games. We have not had the best season so it was a great day for us to have such a good result with the ladies watching on. I acknowledge the committee of Mosman Rugby Club, which did so much work to hold the event. It does an incredible job. I thank Sam Walker, Luke Phillips, Tom Cocks, Matt Psaltis, Ben Hodgkinson and Bryn Pritchard. Go the Whales!

The SPEAKER:

I thank all members, Clerks, attendants and Hansard for another successful week.

The House adjourned, pursuant to standing and sessional orders, at 18:55until Tuesday 17 September 2024 until 12:00.