17/12/2024
Today, I rise to honour and celebrate the remarkable contributions and dedication to community service of Caringbah resident Jenny Sammut. She has been the long-standing leader of the Kogarah RSL Sub-Branch Youth Club, a voluntary role she passionately excelled at for 35 years.
For over four decades, the Kogarah RSL Sub-Branch Youth Club has been a cornerstone of our community, providing opportunities for young people to learn, grow, and connect. Established in 1962, its mission was clear: to create a space where boys—and shortly after, girls—could engage in meaningful activities such as gymnastics, swimming, cricket, marching bands, and dance classes. The club not only cultivated physical skills but also fostered lifelong friendships and a strong sense of community.
Throughout its history, the club embraced inclusion, offering accessible and affordable programs to families. More recently, it introduced specialised gymnastics classes for children with special needs, ensuring that all kids had a place to thrive.
The club’s involvement extended beyond sports, with members honouring returned servicemen and women annually during the Kogarah RSL Sub-Branch ANZAC Day service. These acts of respect and gratitude further strengthened its ties to our community and its traditions.
This year marks the end of an era for the Youth Club, making the difficult decision of closing its doors after 40 years. It held its final Annual Display and Presentation Day on December 1st and is holding a farewell Christmas party today. While its closure is a poignant moment, the legacy it leaves behind is profound.
At the heart of this legacy stands Jenny Sammut, who has served as the Club Superintendent and volunteer manager for an extraordinary 35 years. Jenny’s leadership has been instrumental in shaping the club into a beacon of inclusion and opportunity. Under her guidance, the club reached its peak, serving over 240 children and evolving to focus on recreational and competitive gymnastics, including the beloved "Jellybeans" special needs class.
After speaking with Jenny, we learnt that her most memorable moment over the years was seeing her Jellybeans special needs class come out on stage and do their performance with all children at the club. That’s her greatest achievement. She’s still in contact with some of the families today. All those years ago, their children started out in gymnastics under her wing as five-year-olds, and now are thriving as young adults.
Her priority was to make sure she and the club provided a safe environment where the children could make the best of their abilities. She also made sure it was an environment where children from different needs, backgrounds and religions learnt about friendship and being responsible.
Her biggest takeaway from her experiences in those 35 years was humility. She recognised every child is special and different, has their own special needs, has a special way of communicating. Jenny believed all children can learn to the best of their abilities given the right environment for them to thrive in.
She did it all for her love of the children.
Jenny gave her heart and soul to the youth club, and its community, all the while holding her full-time position teaching children with special needs and raising her own family.
As a humble leader she said she is deeply grateful to the families that have been part of this journey and the countless committee members who volunteered their time and energy to make the club a success.
Jenny’s passion, resilience, and unwavering commitment have left an indelible mark on the hearts of our community.
To honour Jenny’s tireless dedication and her extraordinary impact, I am proud to present her with a Mayoral Achievement Certificate. Jenny embodies the spirit of community service, and her heartfelt contributions will resonate for years to come.