Mr MIKE BAIRD (Manly) [4.59 p.m.]: Tonight I share with the House the sad story of a 10-year-old boy in my electorate. Tyson Holmes' dream of representing the State at the national Primary Schools State Athletics Championships has been cruelly taken away due to an administrative error. Tyson's impressive third place in high jumping at the recent New South Wales Primary Schools State Athletics Championships meant that he was awarded a chance to compete in the nationals. However, after being congratulated by officials and getting measured up for his Australian tracksuit and given raffle tickets to raise the $600 required to participate in the games at the end of this month, 11 days later Tyson was told that the New South Wales Primary Schools Sports Association had made a mistake, that they do not have enough spots for him in the team and that he can no longer take part in the nationals.

Today I call on the Minister for Sport and Recreation and the Minister for Education to do all they can to let Tyson compete in the nationals. I am sure that both Ministers will have compassion for Tyson's plight. Both Ministers are fundamentally decent people so I hope they enlist in the campaign to have Tyson compete.

Tyson's mum Tracey came into my office on Monday, distraught at the intense disappointment of her son. They had received a call from the New South Wales Primary Schools Sports Association who said they had made a mistake and that Tyson and the boy he tied with—a young boy from Menai named Harrison, whose plight should also be considered—were unable to compete because they should have had a jump-off on the day. In other words, the association could send only three people and because two boys had tied for third place they would now only send two boys with one place vacant. Any boy or girl who has had a chance to compete at representative level would understand that Tyson met this news with absolute devastation. I quote from a letter written to me by his mum, Tracey. She wrote:

 

That is the point: It is not Tyson's fault. He had his dreams and he believed it was happening. He had his measurements taken for a uniform and he had the paperwork, but his opportunity to compete has been cruelly taken away. The day after Tyson was awarded his place in the nationals he went to his school, Balgowlah North Primary School, proudly wearing his medal and telling his friends and teachers about his achievements and how he was going to represent New South Wales at the nationals. The school's newsletter had a photograph of him on the front page looking as proud as punch with his medal and the accompanying article talks about how the school is excited and wants to support the boys. The article states:

 

One can imagine how young Tyson feels. Today I hand-delivered a letter to the Minister for Sport and Recreation and the Minister said he would try to speak to the Minister for Education, who has some responsibility in relation to the Primary Schools Sports Association. I understand that the association may be an independent organisation but this is a simple case of administration overruling common sense. We ask that both the Minister for Sport and Recreation and the Minister for Education do what they can to resolve this situation.

Tyson did not make a mistake. Indeed, he trained and he thought he had achieved the goal that many young kids would have—to go to a national championship. He is not the one who should be held responsible for believing that he had achieved that goal for 11 days, only to have it cruelly taken away. I believe the Ministers can make a difference in this young person's life.

 

We have only 18 days to act and get the administrators to change their mind because I believe the nationals start on 29 November. I urge both Ministers to act quickly. I acknowledge that we are facing many issues across the State but if we oversee small injustices like this then we are not doing our job. Common sense should prevail.

 

I pass on my personal congratulations to a young guy who at 10 years of age has achieved what very few kids do—a place on a State team competing at a national championship. That is an extraordinary opportunity and, at the same time, it must be an extraordinary disappointment. My own personal sporting career was nothing like that, but I know that personal disappointments at such a young age can be crushing. We have empathy with young Tyson for what he must be feeling right now.

 

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for someone like Tyson and he should not have to suffer and have it taken away. I again call on both Ministers to work together with the Primary Schools Sports Association to see if we can get common sense to prevail and to ultimately let Tyson jump.