Recently I was delighted to attend the South-West Sydney Academy of Sport's annual athlete graduation and sports dinner. I joined over 200 others to celebrate 20 years of successful junior talented athlete development. SWSAS also celebrated the recent success of its 20 scholarship athletes and 54 volunteer coaches and support staff. The evening featured a stellar cast of guest speakers, including Olympic freeskier Mia Rennie and Illawarra Hawks stars Tyler Harvey, Dan Grida and Tim Coenraad. The musical component was provided by the fabulous string and quartet stage band from Thomas Hassall Anglican college. I'd like to specially recognise Chief Executive Gerry Knights and Board Chair Peter Campbell on being awarded lifetime achievement awards. Having been part of the board previously, I can attest to their passion and commitment in supporting our regions emerging sporting talent. I congratulate all the award winners on their achievements. They are part of a region with a long and proud history of sporting excellence.