Mount Compass Area School

The Hon. R.L. BROKENSHIRE (15:47): I rise to put on the Hansard public record of the state parliament and the Legislative Council my appreciation of the great work being done at my home public school in our town of Mount Compass, and that is the Mount Compass Area School. The Mount Compass Area School is a unique school because it actually has a full general curriculum program that is achieving very good SACE results and outcomes for students, but it also has a diverse agricultural and environmental program that integrates with TAFE opportunities on that campus. It is a school that is integrated from preschool right through to year 12.

I particularly want to congratulate the agriculture teacher, Mrs Kiara Edwards, and her lovely young son, who are working with the students at the school to actually rear chickens, from the time those chickens effectively are hatched through to the point where they are grown pullets ready to start laying and are then sold to parents and locals of the school. Our own chooks come from that school, and I am very much looking forward to the next batch of chickens the students are currently rearing to go with the other poultry we have for our own personal use.

It takes a very good principal, a very committed and dedicated principal, to run a good school, be it public or private, and we are fortunate to have a very committed, experienced and capable principal who has brought with him and developed around him a very committed teaching staff and SSO staff. I believe they are the three key ingredients to develop good outcomes for our young people. Of course, the better the education, as we all know, the better the chances of that young person's personal future and their contribution to South Australia and Australia.

One of the things that I am concerned about, which I hope will be corrected in this next budget's capital works program, is some of the capital works requirements that are needed at that school. Many parents have said to me that, whilst they are very pleased with the way the school is going, they would like to see some money spent on capital improvements. I would have to agree with that. I have met with the school council and the principal, and I know that the principal is working with the department on some innovative ways to see how they can improve some of the very tired buildings at that school. Some of them have been there for at least 40 to 50 years and are due for either significant refurbishment or indeed replacement.

I ask the Minister for Education to look at not only the good outcomes coming from that area school—a school that serves a district much broader than our own Mount Compass district, because of what it offers in the way of curriculum—and how good the public education is at that school but to also look strongly at trying to help them with capital works. My own family is involved with the school when it comes to 'cows create careers'. We have just brought back home to our farm a couple of bobby calves that have been at the school for about a month. Every year we put bobby calves into the school and the students learn how to rear them, but at the same time they also learn about the dairy industry. Of course, it is multifaceted as to what economic and job opportunities are available within the dairy industry.

I feel that whether these students go on to an agricultural career or whether the mere fact that at the Mount Compass Area School they have been able to engage with agricultural science, it augurs well for their understanding and knowledge and care of planet Earth, of growing crops and growing vegetables, of healthy eating and nutrition, and the dairy, cattle and sheep industry. They get involved in the led steer competition at the Royal Adelaide Show. All these things help to make a well-rounded student.

I would encourage the principal and his staff to continue to put in the energy and the commitment they have because they are certainly getting great outcomes for their students. As a member of parliament and as a local citizen, having had my children attend the Mount Compass Area School when they were being educated, I am very proud to stand here today and congratulate the school on its efforts. I encourage the government, whatever its colour, to keep a focus on the education department budget because that is paramount also to the future of South Australia.