MURRAY BRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (15:46): I was pleased to be asked to represent the Minister for Education and Child Development (Hon. Jennifer Rankine MP) on Saturday 24 August on the very special occasion of the celebration of the centenary of the Murray Bridge High School. The member for Hammond, Mr Adrian Pederick, and his wife, Sally, were also present on the evening.

The dinner was a great success with several hundred people gathered to acknowledge, reminisce and celebrate the occasion. Murray Bridge High School has a proud and interesting history. When one considers that when it first opened on 20 January 1913 the first parents of the school—all 25 of them—had to sign an agreement to keep students at school for at least a year, one can truly put the progression of education into perspective.

At one stage during the First World War, with numbers fluctuating up to 48 and then falling, one student was paid to stay on at school. Given its locality, the earlier means of transport for students is also interesting to read—from horses and traps to getting a lift on the milk boat or hopping on the train from Callington, Monarto or Tailem Bend.

The evening provided the opportunity not just to recount the history of the school but to acknowledge and thank those who have made the school the success that it is—committed people, past and present. The evening was MC'd by Lawrie Cresp, a former teacher and vice principal. Phil Fitzsimons, the principal, welcomed all and provided background to the school and its achievements. Two speakers who had undivided attention were the two head prefects—both young women—Elizabeth Mafara and Miranda Willersdorf. Both spoke eloquently of the many opportunities the school offers.

The current school population is around 900 pupils, with nearly 30 per cent of the students now continuing with tertiary or further education. There is a continuing trend with an increasing number of students staying at school and completing their SACE. The school offers pathways to university courses, TAFE and employment with increasing opportunity for vocational education and training courses. The school has links with the Lower Murray Trade Training Centre, which is essentially on site, and the Adelaide Hills and Murraylands Trade School for the Future facility. As is to be expected, an agricultural farm is also situated on site.

The school is justly proud of creating and maintaining partnerships with local industry, TAFE and registered training organisations to provide resourcing support, expertise and facilities. I also noted that the school participates in the South Australian Aboriginal Sports Training Academy. This is a sporting and education program that provides Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander high school students with the skills, opportunities and confidence to 'Dream, Believe, Achieve' in the areas of sport, education, employment and healthy living.

One of the celebrated achievements is the relationship with the Funabashi High School near Tokyo, Japan. This year students were welcomed for the 15^th time. I noticed the school newsletter rightly thanked the homestay parents for their welcoming generosity in opening their homes for two weeks. Apart from spending time in the classroom learning English, I am told the students enjoyed a variety of activities both in the school and around the state.

As one would expect, the centenary would not have been a great celebration without the release of a centenary book, by Alan Field, a former headmaster, which was available on the evening. I would like to single out Helen Peake for her obvious commitment to the school and the planning for the centenary celebrations. Her association with the school as a pupil and teacher was applauded by all. I know that all honourable members in the chamber would agree with me when it comes to acknowledging someone like Helen Peake, who obviously gave tirelessly of her time and talent.

Performer and former student Vanessa Shirley treated her audience to several brackets of songs, with her very beautiful voice, which was strong and masterful. The school has many former students to celebrate and be proud of, and I am certain that it will continue to provide citizens everyone will be proud of.