I rise to recognise the Kotara Bears Junior Rugby League Club from my electorate of Charlestown.

Established in the 1968, the club will this year be celebrating their 50 year anniversary- Happy Birthday!

At their peak, the club fielded 19 teams. This season the Club fielded a total of nine teams from under 6s to under 16s, three of which qualified for 2018 Grand finals.

A special mention to the Bears Committee for continuing the legacy of this great club, thank you to Craig Woolcock, Mark Pippen, Kristy Gulliver, Leo Fallavollita, Good Murray and Bad Murray.

It is a fantastic achievement for a small local rugby league club to reach this milestone, and I wish them all the best for another 50 years!

Go the mighty Bears!