Gibson Electorate Schools

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD (Gibson—Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (15:16): I rise to speak about education in my electorate, and about the exciting future for our local schools. As we know, a quality education is essential to the future success of our students, our community and our state. It was clear in this year's state budget that we are continuing to invest in that future, with the budget designating $37 million in urgent maintenance work to preschools and schools around the state as part of our stimulus plan.

It is exciting for me to see local schools in my electorate receive grants for this much-needed maintenance. Preschools are invaluable to our community and this year, especially, they have done an amazing job. They thoroughly deserve the $30,000 maintenance grants. In June, I visited the Darlington Children's Centre where director David Coulter gave me, along with the Minister for Education, a tour and talked about how the preschool was supporting its students. Like every visit to preschools, it highlighted to me the great role preschools play at this critical stage in a child's development.

As well as meeting David, I want to acknowledge the leaders of each of the preschools in my electorate for their amazing role in education: Cathy Hopkins of Ballara Park Kindergarten, Aaron Selway of Dover Kindergarten, Ali McKenna of Oakland's Estate Kindergarten, Emily Wilkins of Somerton Park Kindergarten and Amy Martin of Warradale Kindergarten.

It is also great to see the state government providing maintenance grants worth between $20,000 and $100,000 to local primary and secondary schools. In my community, this means that the Paringa Park Primary School, the Marion Primary School, the Brighton Primary School, the Darlington Primary School, the Warradale Primary School, the Brighton Secondary School, Seaview High School and Hamilton Secondary College are all set to benefit from this year's budget.

It has always been such a pleasure for me to visit each of these schools, and allow me to relay just some of my observations of the fantastic work they have been doing this year. In January, Paringa Park Primary School Principal Leanne Prior gave me a tour of the school's new nature play area. After so many months of planning and construction everyone was very excited, and it was amazing to see the completed project ready for use. I congratulate Leanne and the leadership team on continuing to enrich their students' time at school and provide a holistic education.

In July, Minister Gardner and I visited Marion Primary School. Marion Primary School has an open plan without corridors, enabling students to move freely between classrooms, contributing to a positive community atmosphere. We sat in on Mr Nathan Starling's room 10 class as they worked on an impressive engineering project: can you believe it, Mr Speaker, they were constructing the Sydney Opera House entirely out of pop sticks.

I would like to acknowledge the massive contribution of the retiring principal of Marion Primary School, Cheryl Ross. In her time as principal there the student population grew, and she had a positive impact on so many young people and their families. She has certainly left big shoes to fill, but I must commend Acting Principal Rob Sutherland for taking up the role in her absence so naturally and skilfully. Both Cheryl and Rob reflect Marion's strong and positive culture.

Brighton Primary School is another local primary school with an inclusive atmosphere from the moment you step onto the grounds. In August, Principal Ian Filer and students from the student executive showed me around the school community in a personal tour. Brighton is also a Centre of Deaf Education and caters for the learning needs of deaf and hard-of-hearing students, so they receive the necessary support to excel in school. In fact, my wife and my brother both went to that school and have wonderful fond memories of it. The student executive taught me how to sign the alphabet in Auslan and the deaf choir also performed the song I am Australian.

Warradale Primary School turned 60 this year and, in October, the school's birthday committee put on a fantastic 60^th birthday celebration. There was an arts exhibition, live music, birthday cake and even a visit from the school's original pupils. Congratulations to Principal Josh Vick and Deputy Principal Sarah French on the successful celebration.

Earlier this year, Lilly, a student from Darlington Primary School wrote me a letter about the weathered condition of their school's state flag. It was great to reply to Lilly's letter with a visit to her and to present the school with a new flag. Like many of Darlington Primary School's students, Lilly is a remarkable young person whose letter to me reflected initiative and active citizenship. I also congratulate Principal Claire Loades on the wonderful work that she does. At that school, they have an intensive English language program which began in 2012 and is led by Lisa Sims. I congratulate her and all the teachers involved.

In August this year, I joined my colleagues the member for Black and the member for Morphett to turn the first sod on the $13.8 million upgrade of Brighton Secondary School. Principal Tony Lunniss does a great job. That is my old school and all my kids have been through that school. I cannot thank the teachers there enough for the great work they do.

I am running out of time but I need to acknowledge Seaview High School and all involved there. They have received a $16.2 million upgrade and I would like to acknowledge Principal Penny Tranter. Toby Mills won the Long Tan Award, the Student Choice Award went to Gabe Bath and the Academic Excellence Award went to Lola Walsh. I was there to present those to them the other day. I thank again all the teachers in our schools. I wish them happy holidays at the end of the year and all the best for 2021.

Time expired.