Mr MITCHELL - 1997-05-01
What is the concept behind the Hall of Champions which will be launched tonight and which will be, I believe, of particular interest to the member for Arafura?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I am sure that, as the shadow minister for sport, the member for Arafura will find this evening's event particularly worth while. Some 10 years ago, a concept was proposed to set up a Northern Territory sporting hall of fame. That proposal was driven by many of the longer-term sporting identities in the Northern Territory, particularly in Darwin, who thought it would be of value to give permanent recognition to the champions of the past, those who achieved greatness in their sport. It was thought that it would act also as an inspiration for current and future sporting people in the Northern Territory. That led us to commission a local sporting identity and journalist who will be in town tonight, a fellow called David Nason who is known to many honourable members. Dave was given the opportunity to prepare profiles on 50 of the top sporting performers in the Northern Territory. He completed that task in 1993 but, unfortunately, the matter went into limbo for a while.
I resurrected this project when I came into the sports portfolio and, last year, I put together a group of people from the Territory sporting community to act as a selection committee. From the original 50 whose profiles were prepared, that committee has selected - and I support its selection - 10 top Territory sporting champions who will be honoured as the first entrants in a Northern Territory sporting Hall of Champions. That process will be launched at 5.30 this afternoon in the main hall of Parliament House. All honourable members are welcome to participate in that event although, obviously, some will be busy in the Chamber at that time. Members will be aware that a structure is being erected in the main hall as we speak. This is where the display will be shown.
As I will be outlining this afternoon, while a champion is a sportsperson who has achieved at the top level in their sport in the Territory, nationally and internationally, there are other people in the Territory who deserve continuing recognition. In many ways, they have become Territory legends and need to be acknowledged as forming part of the great heritage in the history of sport in the Northern Territory. I shall be establishing a process, separate from the Hall of Champions, to be known as the Northern Territory Roll of Honour, for teams,
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administrators, coaches etc who have done a fantastic job in the promotion of their particular aspect of sport. Those who are to be included on that roll of honour will not be announced today. An announcement will be made in the future in that regard. Today is a day for the sporting champions and, in advance, I congratulate them. They will provide great inspiration for young Territorians now and into the future.
One final point is that a criterion for entry is that the sportsperson must have been retired for at least 5 years from their sport. It is their sporting career that is to be celebrated in this way. Obviously, some current great champions, such as the Ian Vander-Wals, the James Swans, the Kerry Dienelts, the Nova Perises, the Christine Trefrys and so on, all of whom have achieved greatness in the last 2 or 3 years ...
Mr Bailey: You will have to retire from the Masters competition, Steve, before you can qualify.
Mr HATTON: I have no chance of ever making it.
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I am sure that, as the shadow minister for sport, the member for Arafura will find this evening's event particularly worth while. Some 10 years ago, a concept was proposed to set up a Northern Territory sporting hall of fame. That proposal was driven by many of the longer-term sporting identities in the Northern Territory, particularly in Darwin, who thought it would be of value to give permanent recognition to the champions of the past, those who achieved greatness in their sport. It was thought that it would act also as an inspiration for current and future sporting people in the Northern Territory. That led us to commission a local sporting identity and journalist who will be in town tonight, a fellow called David Nason who is known to many honourable members. Dave was given the opportunity to prepare profiles on 50 of the top sporting performers in the Northern Territory. He completed that task in 1993 but, unfortunately, the matter went into limbo for a while.
I resurrected this project when I came into the sports portfolio and, last year, I put together a group of people from the Territory sporting community to act as a selection committee. From the original 50 whose profiles were prepared, that committee has selected - and I support its selection - 10 top Territory sporting champions who will be honoured as the first entrants in a Northern Territory sporting Hall of Champions. That process will be launched at 5.30 this afternoon in the main hall of Parliament House. All honourable members are welcome to participate in that event although, obviously, some will be busy in the Chamber at that time. Members will be aware that a structure is being erected in the main hall as we speak. This is where the display will be shown.
As I will be outlining this afternoon, while a champion is a sportsperson who has achieved at the top level in their sport in the Territory, nationally and internationally, there are other people in the Territory who deserve continuing recognition. In many ways, they have become Territory legends and need to be acknowledged as forming part of the great heritage in the history of sport in the Northern Territory. I shall be establishing a process, separate from the Hall of Champions, to be known as the Northern Territory Roll of Honour, for teams,
Page 2111
administrators, coaches etc who have done a fantastic job in the promotion of their particular aspect of sport. Those who are to be included on that roll of honour will not be announced today. An announcement will be made in the future in that regard. Today is a day for the sporting champions and, in advance, I congratulate them. They will provide great inspiration for young Territorians now and into the future.
One final point is that a criterion for entry is that the sportsperson must have been retired for at least 5 years from their sport. It is their sporting career that is to be celebrated in this way. Obviously, some current great champions, such as the Ian Vander-Wals, the James Swans, the Kerry Dienelts, the Nova Perises, the Christine Trefrys and so on, all of whom have achieved greatness in the last 2 or 3 years ...
Mr Bailey: You will have to retire from the Masters competition, Steve, before you can qualify.
Mr HATTON: I have no chance of ever making it.
Page 2112
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016