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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2018-09-05 Daily Xml
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Hurtle Vale Schools

Ms COOK (Hurtle Vale) (16:10): Today, I would like to speak on a number of schools in my electorate and congratulate them on their contribution to bringing books alive and sharing the joy of drawing. During the last parliamentary break, I had plenty of opportunity to visit schools. I think I made about 17 school visits or meetings and thoroughly enjoyed every single one of them. As the previous member for Waite discussed, learning occurs in so many ways. I am always inspired, watching our next generation think creatively without the limits in their mind that we place on ourselves as adults.

Since 1945, Book Week has been celebrated as an opportunity to encourage reading and celebrate both authors and illustrators. It really does highlight the importance of books and puts them at the centre of learning for the week. The Children's Book Council of Australia's theme for 2018 Book Week was Find Your Treasure, which the children and teachers thoroughly embraced. There were pirates aplenty everywhere. Libraries came alive with displays, and the children sorted through their favourite books and had a wonderful time sharing with costumes and storytelling.

I encountered many pirates during my visit and would like to thank the teachers and families who tirelessly supported those special celebrations, taking the time to also dress up and encourage the children to express through their imagination. Each school and student took their own brush to Book Week, with some using costume making as part of the curriculum. I was really delighted to attend parades at Coorara Primary School, Woodcroft Primary School, Reynella East College, Happy Valley Primary School, Pimpala Primary School, Woodcroft College, Braeview Primary School and Morphett Vale East Primary School. I will be attending the Book Week parade this week at Antonio School, and I am looking forward to that.

I have also had the great pleasure of visiting the schools that took part in my 2018 drawing competition. I run this competition every year and give a different theme for the children to draw a picture about. It brings to light some very creative ideas, and it also makes very cheap wallpaper for my office. This year's theme was friendship, and it encouraged the kids to pick up their pencils and consider what friendship meant to them. I thoroughly enjoy seeing the ideas on the themes and congratulate all the winners who have been announced so far. A couple also have not been announced, so if they have family watching they might get an early tip as to who the winners are.

Congratulations to Charlotte and Ruby from Woodcroft College; Shyla, Chloe and Kimberley from Morphett Vale East Primary School; Ciara and Courtney from Braeview Primary School; Brooklyn and Mya from Happy Valley Primary School; Zara and Amy from Coorara Primary School; Michael and Dakota from Emmaus Catholic School; Max and Sophie from Reynella East College; Grace from Woodcroft Primary School; Saoirse and Alex from Pimpala Primary School; and Chloe from Antonio School.

The drawings, as I said, are beautiful and colourful. They are a colourful display, reflecting on loyalty, care and having fun. At a time when we have become so technologically advanced, having drawings to display in my office all year round is a very real reminder of the basic foundations in learning. I keep every single one of them in folders as well, so any visitor to my office in years to come will be able to look back and see their entry in the drawing competition. That might be a good thing or a bad thing for some.

A good education is crucial for the future of our children, and I have the utmost respect for the teachers I have met during my time in parliament and as a parent. I thank them for encouraging and supporting creativity through both Book Week and my drawing competition.

Hurtle Vale has a wonderful array of schools, but it also has a wonderful array of sporting and community groups supporting the area, which makes me very proud to represent them. At this time of the year it is really busy, and through the break I also had time to help with sporting presentations, barbecues and volunteering at various events. There are so many clubs that have already had success, some whose seasons have sadly finished, and some that are still competing in the finals. I wish every one of them the best of luck. Whatever the results it has been wonderful to see so many satisfied families, participants and club members, and I hope to talk about them winning in weeks to come.

As the season draws to a close, I would like to reflect on the fact that we are so wonderfully blessed to have these opportunities in our country and in our community. I look forward to continuing to support activities in Hurtle Vale.

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