As our Paralympians touch down in the country today, I would like to take this opportunity to give a special shout-out to some sporting heroes. Our district boasts an expansive and diverse array of talent when it comes to sporting abilities, and I am proud to have in the Glen Waverley district the Scorpio Table Tennis Academy, based on Burwood Highway in Burwood East, which has an extraordinary record of producing world-class talent. Firstly, I would like to congratulate and acknowledge the achievements of Lin Ma, men’s singles class 9 2024 Paralympian bronze medallist, and Lina Lei OAM and Qian Yang OAM, as the 2024 women’s doubles WD20 paralympic gold medallists – and then Qian Yang OAM backed it up in the singles class 10 with the gold medal there as well. You have done not only our state but our nation so proud. Congratulations on your incredible achievements. I would like to give a special shout-out to the people who make it all happen: Lisa Dong and Linlin Qi, owners of Scorpio Table Tennis.
That is not all for table tennis. The sporting prowess of the Glen Waverley district knows no bounds. Recently the senior girls table tennis team at Brentwood Secondary College brought home the gold medal at the state school Victorian championships. This is a simply outstanding effort, and I pass on my congratulations to everyone involved.
On another matter, I had the pleasure of joining the Minister for Women last Wednesday at Wilson Transformer Company for the Ai Group’s breakfast. Ai Group recently received a grant for the apprentice to leader program, which showcases female leaders from the manufacturing and energy sectors, highlighting the diverse career opportunities available to women in these fields.
