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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2018-11-07 Daily Xml
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Swallowcliffe Primary School

Mr GEE (Taylor) (15:17): I want to start today by talking about Swallowcliffe Primary School, a school in Davoren Park that I have been lucky to have kept in my new electorate following the last boundary change. It is a school that has had so many challenges but, on the other hand, so many great stories of accomplishment that warm your heart in equal measure. I think it is perhaps one of the most challenging schools in our state.

Swallowcliffe Primary was one of the first schools I visited as the member for Napier, and I remember having a confronting chat with the then new deputy principal, Tonia Noble. I was troubled to hear about serious mental health issues affecting even their youngest students and the effect it was having on their learning. I want to pay tribute to Tonia and her staff for the work that they have done to improve students' results each year.

This work contributes to improving the futures of these children and giving the students an environment in which they can feel safe and happy. I visited with Tonia many times and it has always been interesting and often emotional to hear about the students and the school. She is a tough woman and advocates well on behalf of her students, teachers, staff and the school's needs whenever she can.

I remember inviting the former education minister, Dr Susan Close MP, to visit the school one morning back in 2015. The member for Port Adelaide toured the school and met with Tonia and her staff, and the minister could see that the school needed assistance. It was great news for the school and the community when the Labor government's multimillion dollar investment was announced to redevelop Swallowcliffe Primary to provide quality, modern facilities for staff and students.

It was a fitting return for the member for Port Adelaide and now deputy leader to accompany me earlier this week to visit the school to see the results of that investment, the positive impact that the new facilities are having on the students and the new sense of calmness that envelops the school. This is only part of the impact that the deputy leader has made across my electorate and the whole public education sector. I wish to place on the record my thanks for her passion and commitment to our schools. I know she misses the schools, and the schools certainly miss her. The schools in my electorate are certainly glad that she has continued as the shadow education minister.

Mr Speaker, you may be aware that World Teachers' Day was recently celebrated in schools across South Australia, and I was pleased to celebrate the day at the Elizabeth North Primary School—a school where we have another great principal, Mr Graham Wood. Elizabeth North Primary recently hosted their biennial fete. It was an event with a large range of stalls, entertainment and rides, and a large crowd of students, parents and community members attended.

I congratulate assistant principal, Tania Dal Zotto, and one of the teachers, Rebecca Elvy, who worked with the other staff and parents to organise the event. It was great to see all members of staff working at the fete, and to see the friendly competition between classes to see which stall could raise the most funds. It was an enjoyable afternoon chatting with staff and parents, visiting the stalls and having a go at the frisbee toss. Congratulations to all involved.

This is the 60th anniversary for the Elizabeth North Primary School. The school has certainly changed a lot and seen thousands of students graduate over the years. The school has also grown, from 290 students in 1958 to well over 700 students today, making it one of the largest primary schools in the north.

Another school I first visited as the Labor candidate for Taylor, and I am now proud to have that school in my electorate, is Burton Primary School, a very diverse school that I recently visited again with the current education minister to open the new STEM redevelopment. It was an enjoyable afternoon chatting with students about the work that they do as part of the STEM curriculum and speaking with the teachers and SSOs who assist students to help achieve their potential.

I take the opportunity to thank Alison Lynch. Alison has been the principal of Burton Primary School for the last five years and has certainly been a strong advocate for the school community. Alison is currently transitioning into retirement after a long career in education. I thank her for her work during her time at Burton, and I wish Alison all the best for a happy and healthy future. I wish current deputy principal, Nic Dale, all the best as he steps into the role of principal next year. In conclusion, I want to thank all the teachers, leaders and SSOs across the north for the work they do in educating and inspiring our young people.

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