Jane Prentice (Ryan, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Last week I received a very pleasant surprise visit from two of my young constituents—Jenae and Nathan Wilkinson from Mount Crosby. Jenae and Nathan are members of the Ipswich Karate Club who had just returned from competing at the National Seminar/Championships in Melbourne organised by the Japan Karate Association World Federation of Australia held earlier in March. Jenae and Nathan trained for three days with the top Japanese and Australian senseis before the tournament was held on the final day. Jenae received a bronze medal in the 11- to 12-year-old girls kumite sixth to fourth kyu competition. Kumite is a form of sparring and is one of the three main sections for karate training. Nathan received a bronze medal for up to eight-year-old boys kumite sixth to fourth kyu competition. A team of 10 members in the Ipswich Karate Club competed at the event including six juniors and four seniors. The team brought home 14 medals between them, including by Jenae and Nathan's mum, Wendy, who received a silver medal in the open women's kumite. The team is now planning for their next trip which will include training in Tokyo in preparation for the 2015 Australian titles. Mr Deputy Speaker Scott, I know, you will join me as a fellow Queenslander in welcoming our friend Bruce McIver, who is in the gallery today.