Grievance Debate

Brighton Secondary School

Mr SPEIRS (Bright) (15:11): Yesterday I had the opportunity to host the immensely talented Brighton Secondary School choir in Old Parliament House where students, parents and teachers enjoyed morning tea and put on a mini concert for a number of my parliamentary colleagues. As many members would know, Brighton Secondary School is renowned not only for being the alma mater of the member for Mitchell but also as one of the state's leading music schools, having been a special interest music school since 1976.

Brighton's much lauded music program is headed by the exceptionally well regarded Jeffrey Kong, a man whose impact and influence on the lives of young people in Adelaide's south-west should not be underestimated. Next year Mr Kong will celebrate 40 years at Brighton Secondary School. The school has recently recognised Mr Kong's contribution by naming its newly built concert hall after him, a much deserved honour.

One of Jeffrey Kong's great skills is his ability to connect with people all across the world in his efforts to look for opportunities for his students. He regularly travels interstate and overseas, building relationships with other schools and music-focused organisations who partner with Brighton Secondary School's music program. This gives the school widespread recognition but also exposes students to many different approaches to music education and gives them the opportunity to perform in places and cultures outside their school environment. This is invaluable for the learning process.

I hosted yesterday's morning tea and concert to celebrate the school's recent invitation to be one of 55 international choirs gathering in Belgium in early November for the Thousand Voices for Peace Flanders Festival Brussels. This festival will see more than 1,000 professional and non-professional singers from countries which were involved in World War I, standing side by side in a symbolic and powerful statement of peace and togetherness. Students from Brighton will leave South Australia on 31 October and will be part of the Thousand Voices concerts from 3 to 9 November in Belgium.

The event will culminate on 9 November in an unforgettable final concert in which all singers will present an inspired plea for peace in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart (the Koekelberg Basilica) in Brussels. This will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for Brighton students, and I am sure it will be a highlight of their secondary education. The 12 students who have the privilege of travelling to Belgium are Eliza and Amelia Sard; Martin Oakley; Daniel and Rhys Williams; Roan Johnson; James Baird; Duncan Vecchiarelli, a Scottish-Italian-Australian student, a great combination; Esmond Choi; Megan Paterson; Milene MacLachlan; and York Possemiers.

These students' special musical talents and their overriding commitment to hard work has enabled them to reach a standard where they are able to represent not only their school but also the whole of Australia, for the choir from Brighton Secondary School is the only one going from Australia. From hearing them in action in Old Parliament House yesterday, I am completely confident that they will do us all proud.

The sacrifices these students have made to invest in their music skills, the many hours they have put into practising, the hours spent back at school when their peers have been doing other things and, of course, the sacrifices their parents have made as well, have all paid off and an amazing trip to Europe awaits them.

I was delighted to also welcome Heidi Van Gerwen, Belgium's Honorary Consul to South Australia, who attended yesterday's concert, and I thank her for her considerable involvement in making it possible for the choir to travel to Belgium.

The choir's trip has been provided with much needed financial support from the Brighton RSL Sub-branch, and it was great to have Graham Bulger, the RSL's Junior Vice President, attend our event yesterday. Sponsorship has also been provided by the Adelaide Cemeteries Authority, and I commend their chief executive officer, Robert Pitt, for his interest and support.

Brighton Secondary School is a shining example of quality public education in South Australia. Its teachers strive for excellence and its leadership team, headed by Principal Olivia O'Neill, is continually pushing the boundaries to bring creative, innovative teaching approaches and state-of-the-art facilities to students. The upcoming trip to participate in 'Thousand Voices for Peace' in Belgium is one example where this commitment to excellence is delivering exciting results. Bon voyage to the students, parents and teachers who are travelling to Belgium in October and November this year.