A 50 year veteran volunteer of community sport and fundraising, John Stoffels, has been named the 2022 Cronulla Senior of the Year on day one of the NSW Seniors Festival.
I announced John as the winner at a celebratory morning tea where the trophy was presented by Minister for Seniors Mark Coure.
John has been passionate about giving people from the Sutherland Shire the opportunity to play and enjoy sport. Over the years he has been a driving force across football, softball and more recently golf, always actively involved in fundraising to provide a better experience and facilities for players.
John’s enthusiasm for a cause is obvious, no more so than in his current role as Chair of the Woolooware Golf Club’s Legacy Committee, where he spearheads the annual push to help the families of fallen or ill veterans.
As an ex-serviceman himself, John throws himself into leading the fundraising effort, helping the club donate significant sums of money even when COVID-19 lockdowns have meant the yearly Legacy golf day couldn’t be held.
John’s passion, commitment and enthusiasm is infectious and has made a big difference to many people involved with both sport and Legacy.
John’s service to sport started with the Sutherland Shire Soccer Football Club, now the Sutherland Sharks Football Club, including a number of years as President, continued with the Sutherland Shire Softball Association where he was the President for more than a decade, and more recently he has been involved with the Sharks Social Golf Club, where he has served as President for almost 10 years.
The other finalists in the Cronulla NSW Seniors Festival Local Achievement Awards were:
- Patricia Cudmore – St Vincent de Paul Society Sutherland Shire regional president
- John Curtis – NSW State Emergency Service volunteer
- Michael Douglas – Sutherland Food Services volunteer including past president
- Ron Griffths – Lilli Pilli Football Club volunteer
- Betty Jacobs – Kurnell Girl Guides and Kurnell Pensioners’ Club volunteer
- Chris Murray – NSW State Emergency Service leading senior operator
- Norman “Buzz” Piddington – North Cronulla Surf Life Saving Club volunteer
- Neil Reynolds – Caringbah Baptist Church and Skills4Me volunteer
- Russell Sullivan – Port Hacking Open Sailing Club rear commodore
- Brian Thompson OAM – Elouera Surf Life Saving Club patron, Tradies director
- Peter Turbet – Sutherland Shire Council Bushcare volunteer, Fred Hollows Foundation worker and history author.
The awards recognise the invaluable contribution seniors make to so many aspects of community life here in the Shire.
The finalists highlight how fortunate we are to have such incredible, dedicated volunteers in the Sutherland Shire, which makes it such a great place to live.
🔵⚪️⚫️ A great occasion recognising all the achievers at our oldest Bate Bay surf club - the annual Cronulla Surf Life Saving Club presentation night. ... See MoreSee Less
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NSW deserves better than a government sleepwalking through crises.
Over the coming 21 months, we’ll outline our detailed policies and plans.
In the meantime, here are some of our ideas for starters:
✔️Restore the First Home Buyer Choice program, removing the burden of stamp duty for young people trying to get into the housing market
✔️Stamp duty concessions for eligible downsizers
✔️Easing the record state taxes and charges on new homes, which are crippling supply
✔️Reinstate the Active Kids Program, to help with household budgets and get our kids moving, learning and engaging
✔️Fairer payroll tax settings to support small and medium-sized businesses
✔️An AI Opportunities Action Plan overseen by a dedicated Minister, with artificial intelligence embedded across public service processes.
✔️Genuine investments in preventative health so that people can live longer, better lives.
✔️Aim for balanced budgets over the economic cycle.
#BudgetInReply2025 ... See MoreSee Less
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An inquiry into missing persons would be a great start.
What are you doing about corruption in londonderry collect ICAC and head out
Defund this!!
Here here
This government is having to redirect money to pay for all the pay rises our first responders and most public servants deserve. That money has to come from somewhere and if it means cancelling some ‘pipeline’ projects as you call them then so be it. Nothing ever seems good enough for you. Do you not realise there is no infinite well of money to draw from??? If you think it is so wrong then stop whingeing and WORK with the incumbents to fix issues rather than just your constant whingeing.
So? Labor still gonna win next election. Liberal Party is infested with creepy perverted fat Christians like you who can’t be trusted around kids. Majority of Christians are predators and sex offenders. Nobody gonna vote for that .😂
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NSW needs a government that delivers transformation.
NSW needs a government that’s responsible and competent.
I will lead a government focused on building a stronger economy where everyone in NSW can share in its benefits.
A government focused on the opportunities and the challenges of tomorrow.
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Defiantly needs a government that is competent mr speakman
Mark Speakman highest of praise to you around AI announcement. Let me tell you—when you’re in it, the hesitation, the lack of ownership and the paralysis-by-analysis around emerging tech is palpable. No one knows who should lead - so no one does. This kind of leadership—naming AI as a priority, giving it a dedicated portfolio and supporting the private sector with real financial tools—sends a powerful message that NSW is ready to not just participate in the future but help shape it.
You are a great man and a fine leader. Mark Speakman. Best wishes.
Good Afternoon, 😀 HaVe A GrEaT Day! #Amazing_Work, #Great_PhoToS, #GreAt_LeAdeR
A lot said. Very little content.
So? Labor still gonna win next election. Liberal Party is infested with creepy perverted fat Christians like you who can’t be trusted around kids. Majority of Christians are predators and sex offenders. Nobody gonna vote for that .😂
Would you, if you were to form government in the future, build dams for water security and flood mitigation or bury your heads in the sand like usual Mark Speakman ?
All this opposition does is whinge and complain about the sitting government. You are an embarassment. We wouldn’t teach our kids to have an attitude or speak the way you do. You need a massive change to your public relations before people will take you seriously. You only need to look at what happened with Dutton as proof.
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🇩🇪🇦🇺An informative meeting with Her Excellency German Ambassador Grzeski, Consul General Felix Schwarz and German-Australian Chamber of Industry and Commerce Executive Director Marko Walde.Ambassador Grzeski had a fruitful exchange on current policy challenges for New South Wales and Germany, such as sustainable energy mix, affordable housing and circular economy, with the Leader of the Opposition, The Hon Mark Speakman, SC MP and the Shadow Ministers The Hon Scott Farlow MLC, The Hon Damien Tudehope MLC and The Hon Jacqui Munro MLC. ... See MoreSee Less
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My daughter lives & works as an independent consultant in Berlin (home for few weeks end of June). She continually points out the good German govt management!
Shame we don’t have it here.
Congratulations to Cronulla electorate recipients of King’s Birthday honours!
🎖️Hon Scott Morrison AC (Scott Morrison (ScoMo)) of Port Hacking for eminent service to the people and Parliament of Australia, particularly as Prime Minister, to notablecontributions to global engagement, to leadership of the national COVID-19 response, to economic initiatives, and to national security enhancements, especially through leadership of Australia's contribution to AUKUS.
🎖️Emertius Professor Jason Middleton AO of Grays Point for distinguished service to environmental research and marine sciences, particularly coastal oceanography and aviation meteorology, and to tertiary education.
🎖️Detective Inspector Mardi Forsyth APM of Cronulla for distinguished service as a member of the NSW Police Force for more than 27 years including as a member of the Terrorism Investigations Squad for the last 10 years. ... See MoreSee Less
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If you guys put Don Harwin back in you’ve learnt nothing. IDC what faction… What leader challenges a covid fine when so many people did exactly the same thing and got fined. None. Then all his rigging and the epic failure Don should never work in politics again.
Last night a gathering at the NSW Parliament witnessed an extraordinary moment — the conferral of one of France’s highest honours, upon two remarkable individuals: Silas Despreaux and Damien Guérot.
This decoration is a solemn recognition of extraordinary courage.
On 13 April 2024, Australia witnessed a tragedy that will long be etched in our national memory. A brutal stabbing attack at Bondi Junction took six innocent lives and wounded many more.
In those terrifying moments, when instinct tells us to run, two men — Silas and Damien — chose to stand.
With only bollards in their hands, they ran towards the danger, towards the unknown.
They warned civilians, helped usher them to safety, and positioned themselves between a knife-wielding attacker and innocent lives.
They later joined Inspector Amy Scott — herself a hero — and offered their strength and resolve.
Their actions were spontaneous, fearless, and deeply human.
It is fitting that France has chosen to honour them — and here in Australia, we too honour them – recognising not only their courage but also how their actions reflect the longstanding friendship and cooperation between our two nations. ... See MoreSee Less
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Bill Macnaught