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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2021-03-17 Daily Xml
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Davenport Electorate Schools

Mr MURRAY (Davenport) (14:33): My question is directed to the Minister for Education. Can the minister please provide an update to the house on the Marshall Liberal government's support for young people and their families by building key infrastructure in the southern suburbs, particularly in my electorate of Davenport?

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER (Morialta—Minister for Education) (14:33): I thank the member for Davenport for this important question. I know that he is a passionate advocate for the children and young people in his community and more broadly across the south and, indeed, for the schools and preschools particularly that service those communities.

I was with the member for Davenport just under two weeks ago visiting some sites in his electorate. One of the sites we visited was the Aberfoyle Hub Preschool on Taylors Road. I know Elise Wheaton and the staff at Aberfoyle Hub Preschool are very excited about one of the government's programs, which is the preschool maintenance funds that have come about as part of our COVID stimulus package.

They were very proud of the work they had done with the $20,000 they spent last year, and they were very excited about the work they are doing to improve their outdoor areas in the coming five months, a project that has engaged their student body. The children had told them what they wanted, the parents and the staff worked together and they have a really exciting body of work to improve their outdoor area.

Those are discussions and exciting plans that are being replicated in nearly 400 government preschool sites around South Australia in every one of our members' electorates. I encourage all members to reach out to your preschools and learn about this great work that is going on. It is also providing critical jobs for tradies, small businesses and suppliers at a time when they have never needed it more.

In Davenport, in the member's electorate, there are some really exciting big projects as well. One of the most significant is at the Aberfoyle Park High School, which has a $14 million project that the member for Davenport and I have also appreciated the opportunity to have a look at on a couple of occasions to see that work progressing—new buildings, the refurbishment of existing buildings and indoor and outdoor connectivity being developed. Of course, we are not just focused on the bricks and mortar. The most important work that is done in our schools, of course, is the teaching and learning that go on in the classroom, and there are a range of ways in which that is delivered.

While I have Aberfoyle Park High School in mind, can I say one of the key things we are looking to build is the culture in our schools and the activities our schools undertake. One of the really exciting activities at Aberfoyle Park High School is that they engage in the Australasian Ethics Olympiad. I am sure the house will be very pleased to know that the philosophy club at Aberfoyle Park High School won gold (first place) in the state Ethics Olympiad and recently won a silver medal (second place) in the Australasian finals. It is a tremendous achievement and we congratulate Ashwin Murugappa, Konon Kuboi, Sev Pretila, Georgia Warren and Cadence Butterfield, who were the team who were successful there.

Across the broader southern suburbs, there are a range of terrific infrastructure projects underway. I know that the Christies Beach High School project, worth $8 million and anticipated to be completed in August, enhancing the school entry and admin areas, refurbishing facilities and removing aged transportables, is going well. At Reynella East College, the $13 million program includes a new gymnasium classroom and amenities, and Wirreanda Secondary School's $11½ million program is anticipated for completion in the middle of this year. I imagine the member for Hurtle Vale may well have visited and, if not, I encourage her to visit a number of those new facilities already in use—

Ms Cook interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: —as of the last couple of weeks. It was tremendous to be able to spend some time in that new facility that was delivered about two weeks ago. If the member has been there in the last two weeks, I commend her.

The Hon. L.W.K. Bignell interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Mawson is called to order.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: The year 7s at Wirreanda Secondary School are, of course, loving the opportunity to have that specialist environment. Across the southern suburbs, there are big programs at Reynella East College, Seaford Secondary College—in particular, the addition of new funding to support modular special options places is much appreciated—and at Woodcroft Primary School, with a tremendous project happening there. The Marshall Liberal government will continue to support the communities of the south in delivering outstanding world-class education facilities.

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