Jags Premier League 2014 Grand Final Night

I would like to pay my respects to the traditional owners, the Woiwurung and Wathaurung people and their elders past and present.

I’d like to welcome you all to what is going to become an increasing important day in our local sporting calendar.

Our region has historically participated in outstanding sporting events and has a well established reputation for doing so.

We have produced some outstanding national and international sports performers and events like this play an important role in achieving that.

Our region contributes across a broad range of sporting – from cricket, AFL, netball, soccer, basketball and athletics; to BMX riding, cycling, golf, swimming, and Ten Pin Bowling.

The Jags Premier League puts cricket in the spotlight across Wyndham and a T20 cricket competition is a welcome addition to our annual calendar or sporting events.

Melbourne Renegades legend Matthew Wade and I had the pleasure
of congratulating Western Tigers Captain Stephen Varghese
and his team for coming runner up of JPL 14 last weekend.

Photo courtesy of Wyndham Jags Cricket Club (www.wyndhamjags.com.au)

I see this event growing and growing over the coming years – especially given its success during the past two months.

The Wyndham Jags Cricket Club has only recently been established, it is therefore an amazing achievement to see such a well-run sporting event in our community.

Like many of you, I am a keen advocate for sport in our community.

As many of you are already aware – I have been an avid netballer for many years.

The importance of leading healthy active lives should not be understated.

Sport delivers enormous social benefits to our community.

It teaches you how to be part of a team, about fitness and persistence, and about winning and losing.

Sport improves our overall health. Both physically and mentally.

Sport teaches us to work hard and brings us closer to other members of our community.

And that is what this community does so well. We come together.

Our multicultural community is something that I am extremely proud of.

We have all grown up in different ways, shared different experiences, and have different stories to tell.

Being part of a sport brings us together as a community.

The Jags Premier League is an excellent example of how community’s right across Melbourne can come together.

Sometimes we see athletes who do it tough come through with greater strength and flying colours in the end.

This competition is about celebrating our multiculturalism. It is about making new friends, being more connected, and having fun at the same time.

Congratulations to all involved in staging the Jags Premier League.

Well done to all of you who have come throughout the past 7 weeks to support the cricketers.

To all the cricketers, the fact that you are participating and trying is a victory in itself.

I also congratulate the many coaches, family members, friends and organisers for your involvement.

I also particularly recognise those who are come from outside of the Wyndham area. Our community is a welcoming one.

We thank you for your participating – you are warmly welcomed into our community at any time.

Without all your support the event would not be possible and the cricketers would miss a golden opportunity to strive for their best.

This is a great occasion for our community.

I am confident it will continue to grow strongly in the future.

Thank you very much.