Newland Electorate

Ms SAVVAS (Newland) (15:58): I would like to use the grievance time to talk about all the wonderful things that are going on in my electorate and bring a bit of an upbeat feel to the chamber because it is always a good opportunity to talk about the positive things that are going on in the north-eastern suburbs. Today, I thought I would mention a bit of the great work that is happening at some of our local schools.

In the electorate of Newland, we are very blessed to have 15 schools—so a very large number of schools for a metropolitan state electorate—and I have had the great privilege and pleasure of visiting all those schools and engaging with them on different levels at different times. Firstly, I thought I would draw attention to Tea Tree Gully Primary, which is one of the oldest schools in the state. It is a very small school in terms of the number of students who are there, but the community and family feel of the school is second to none. Recently they partnered with our local RSL for an intergenerational art project, where students at Tea Tree Gully Primary would partner with a member from the RSL, which is just across the road from their school, to paint on the Stobie poles about ANZAC service and what veterans mean to them.

There was a wonderful opportunity on ANZAC Day to walk down Memorial Drive, which is somewhere in Tea Tree Gully where we acknowledge all the wonderful work of our veterans, and look at the artwork that has been done by the students and RSL members. I just think that it is an incredible testament to the benefits of intergenerational learning and what the members of the RSL and the students at Tea Tree Gully Primary were able to learn from that experience.

I would also like to mention Ridgehaven Primary. Ridgehaven Primary, right on the boundary of the electorate of Newland, is another wonderful school. Earlier this year, they had Rainbow Day at their school, where they celebrated Harmony Week but also World Down Syndrome Day because of a student at their school with Down syndrome. They sold rainbow Paddle Pops at their school. Everyone had rainbow costumes. I bought some rainbow knee-high socks, and all the money raised on that day went to Down syndrome support and awareness. It was another good way for students to get involved but also to understand diversity, acceptance and inclusion. I think Ridgehaven did such a wonderful job of that.

Another thing at Ridgehaven always worth noting is that they have a beautiful support dog, Poet. He is a little 'oodle' of some description, and he just runs around the school, having pats and licking students, teachers and visitors alike, and he just brings a real energy to the place.

I would also like to mention Banksia Park Primary, which is such a beautiful school and has a really, really wonderful relationship with the Banksia Park Kindergarten on site. I joined them for one of the classes in the Stephanie Alexander kitchen garden program a few weeks back. I made some Asian noodle salads and focaccias with the kids. I have to say that it is probably one of the favourite things that I have done so far as a local member, getting involved in the cooking in the classroom with the kids and just watching them teach me different kitchen skills and learning what they have learnt from the kitchen garden program, from both the cooking element and also the gardening element there as well.

Modbury South Primary is another wonderful school that really connects well with the other two schools which are co-located on the same site, Modbury Special and Modbury High. I joined them earlier in the year for Pancake Day. We made pancakes for the students and their parents. It was another really good way to bring the parents into the community and celebrate and acknowledge the work of the parents as well. They could also have a coffee. I had one on my way in to parliament. I took my pancakes in the car. I love what Modbury South are doing, particularly the way they connect with Modbury Special School, which is right next door.

We also have Ardtornish Primary School. I will be attending Ardtornish this week for Reconciliation Week with my dearest elder, Uncle Tamaru, to celebrate Reconciliation Week but also to raise the new Torres Strait Islander flag that the school and kindergarten will be putting up at the school.

We have Modbury High School, which recently was the pilot site for the new Olympics Unleashed program that I attended with the member for Wright, the Minister for Education. It is where students are given the opportunity to learn about goalsetting from Olympians and talk about challenges and those sorts of things and all of the different things that come from achieving your goals and having setbacks.

Those are just a few examples of the wonderful schools in my electorate. I will make sure that I get to list all the rest of them at another opportunity sometime soon. But I would like to acknowledge the parents, the volunteers and the teachers who all put in so much work to make those schools real community places, and places where our children can grow and thrive.