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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2019-10-30 Daily Xml
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Children's Week Awards

Mr TEAGUE (Heysen) (15:00): My question is to the Minister for Education. Can the minister update the house on the 2019 Children's Week Awards?

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER (Morialta—Minister for Education) (15:00): I'm very pleased to be able to share some very happy news with the house. Children's Week is an opportunity for us to all celebrate children across South Australia, their achievements, their aspirations and, of course, it is something that I know is very dear to all our hearts.

This morning, members across the house reflected on the importance of World Teachers' Day, and it was on World Teachers' Day that I had the great privilege of attending Magill Primary School, sir, in your electorate, to share some very happy times with the Children's Week Association Committee, with a range of dignitaries from across the education system and South Australia, and to present some very special young South Australians with some commendations—the minister's Children's Week Awards.

It is a great privilege to be able to share some further happy information with the house and talk about some of the wonderful achievements of these young South Australians. I recognise that there were awards at both the primary year level and the high school level. An honourable mention in the primary years went to Hannah Durand of Kapunda Primary School for her great academic endeavours and success in choral and instrumental performance, including a scholarship to the Open Music Academy at the University of Adelaide Conservatorium.

Another honourable mention went to Hudson Linke of Westminster School, in recognition of his demonstrated understanding, as a Ngarrindjeri student, of the absolute requirement for reconciliation and the acceptance of past wrongs and the example he has shown his secondary peers of the value of speaking up.

Winners in the primary years were Cameron Rankine and Aaron Schneider from Loxton Primary School for exemplary participation as members of the Young Aboriginal STEM Thinkers of South Australia team at the 2019 STEM Aboriginal Congress and the inspiration they provided to 800 Aboriginal student peers across South Australia. I know that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition cares a lot about the STEM Congress that I think started under her watch, and I commend her for that.

Samuel Weavers, from East Adelaide Primary School in the Premier's electorate, also received an award for the primary years for the development of his online popcorn business, the sharing of his success with others, both locally and internationally, the demonstration that he is not limited by autism and his facilitation of fundraising for others in need through Kids4Kids. For Sam, I have a very particular acknowledgement: my family very much appreciated the popcorn he provided us, and we are very grateful for that.

In the high school years, there was an honourable mention to Cameron Dixon from Glossop High School for his exemplary contribution to school and community, particularly through the sharing of his understanding of technology, allowing collaboration in the management of interschool events. Another winner was Elijah Smith from Kapunda High School, in recognition of an outstanding career at school academically, in sport, in music and in leadership, while also making a significant contribution to the community. He has managed all this while continuing to take a supportive role in his own family.

The final winners at the high school level were Sabrina Passelli, Sarah Pike and Mahla Truscott of St Peter's Girls School for a remarkable contribution to the correction of clubfoot in children in Bangladesh. With the assistance of professional mentoring, they designed an improved sole that will encourage more dedicated four-year wearing of brace shoes as needed to complete the correction of this disability.

All these children are to be commended, and they certainly enjoyed the presentation on Friday. I know that all members of the house will commend them for the work they do and celebrate their achievements as examples of the wonderful achievements by so many young people in all our communities right across South Australia. We use Children's Week to celebrate those wonderful young people of whom we are so very proud.

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