Ms JODIE HARRISON (Charlestown)— When Charlestown musician Connor Wink made it through to season 11 of The Voice recently, on the back of an innovative, acoustic performance of Cher's 'Believe', it came as little surprise to us in Lake Macquarie.

I have mentioned Connor in Parliament before—his driveway musical performances during the COVID-19 lockdown, some of which were webcast by Lake Macquarie City Council, brought some much-needed joy.

A multi-instrumentalist, Connor is a talented singer-songwriter, a man living with blindness, a local disability advocate—and an absolute Cher fanatic. He was recently nominated for the Lake Mac Artist and Creator Award at the 2022 Lake Mac Awards.

Connor was named one of five finalists in his category, which is given for demonstrating excellence in the field of arts and creative production. Apart from his perfect pitch and unique voice, Connor is an extraordinary philanthropist, having raised tens of thousands of dollars for Variety, the children's charity, through busking and fund-raising activities.

His nomination is well‑earned—and while Connor wasn't successful in progressing through to the Battles round on The Voice, I am sure his talent and unique perspective will continue to take his artistic endeavours to new heights.

A Community Recognition Notice is an opportunity for an MP to submit a short statement praising the work of an individual or group in the local community. If you have any ideas about people I can recognise with a Community Recognition Notice, please email and let me know!