
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.
🇩🇪🇦🇺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!
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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Love it x
Bill Macnaught
🎶🎤🎸🥁🎹🎺 A fabulous weekend of jazz and blues music with over 100 acts for the fifth annual Cronulla Jazz & Blues Festival. ... See MoreSee Less
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You are potentially the next premier, so now is the time to outline a grand plan to cover Sydney in fast, efficient metro lines. This can be paid for by selling land rights over existing rail corridors.
For over 60 years Woolooware Golf Club’s Legacy Golf Day has raised money for Legacy - well over $1M in that time.
Congratulations and thanks to John Stoffels (2022 Cronulla Senior of the Year) and his committee more great work today. ... See MoreSee Less
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Just make sure Minns doesn’t sell it off.
Mark … have you called out the Minns govt over the buses coming from China ?
Congratulation legacy golf day.
Speakman is a weakman
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Here in North Shore Port Macquarie taking part in the massive flood clean up efforts happening along the Mid North Coast and in the Hunter.
A huge thanks to thousands of NSW SES, NSW Rural Fire Service, Marine Rescue NSW and other volunteers. ... See MoreSee Less
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Thank you Mark
Well done to you all.
Good work Mark Speakman ,m
Important that political leaders get out from behind the microphones and see the impact and the people. Well done Mark Speakman
Love it x
sir mujhe bhi job Dobara
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