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John Balfour

I congratulate John Balfour on being named Northern Beaches Council Senior Citizen of the Year. This is an incredible and well-deserved honour. Like many, John started off as a cadet. He later took part in the Australian Army Reserves for 48 years and gave over 50 years of service to his local RSL NSW. In 2013 he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for his service to veterans. John has served as Parade Commander for the annual Forestville RSL Sub-Branch ANZAC Sunday March, has coordinated the annual Australia My Country competition with local schools, is a volunteer groundsman at Belrose Public School and Wesley Gardens and also managed the Australia's Memorial Walk at North Head. John is dedicated to educating young people about our nation's history to ensure that stories of service and sacrifice are never forgotten. He inspires generations to value courage and community. We are fortunate to benefit from his extraordinary service. I congratulate John again on his achievements. I truly am thankful for his extraordinary leadership of our community.

Read the Community Recognition Statement in the NSW Hansard, here.

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Vale Mary Ryland

August 06, 2026

I acknowledge the passing of Mary Ryland, a much-loved former Deputy Principal and Acting Principal of Stella Maris College, who passed away on 14 July aged 75. For generations of Stella students, Mary was far more than a school leader. She was a steady,...

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Allambie Heights Village

August 06, 2026

Today, I rise to recognise the extraordinary contribution of Allambie Heights Village and its ongoing commitment to the people of my community. This year marks an incredible milestone, with the organisation celebrating 101 combined years of service to people all across the Northern Beaches....

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