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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2024-10-30 Daily Xml
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World Teachers' Day

Ms PRATT (Frome) (15:13): The only thing I love more than talking about my local community of Frome is the teachers who are in it, but I want to first pick up on the delightful grieve we have just heard from the member for Mount Gambier reflecting on my school, Melaleuca Park Primary School. I spent 11 years working there and am delighted to hear that probably 24 years on they are seeing a return on investment in significant capital projects.

I was proud to contribute quite a lot to the culture of student voice at that school. I know, as we reflect on World Teachers' Day being 25 October, that many teachers are dedicated to developing student voice. However, at that particular school, under the leadership of principal John McCade from 2000 to 2007, Melaleuca Park saw significant renovations and investment at that site. Surprisingly, 24 years on we look to further investment being made in schools.

Where the member for Mount Gambier speaks of money being invested in toilet blocks—which might sound, to others, as a fairly mundane and unexciting investment—I would hope to see the current government release similar funds to schools in my electorate, particularly Two Wells Primary School and Manoora. I will start on Manoora, because it is a town without mains water, a town in country SA without mains water.

Of particular concern for me is the school site, where they rely on bore or rainwater tanks or carting in a drought. This is a school that has to cart in its own water. If that is not bad enough, when the power is out, when there is a brownout, the toilets do not flush and the drinking fountains do not work. So to the teachers at the Manoora Primary School, and particularly the parents and friends, the governing council, led ably by Sonia Nelson as the principal, I give them a big shout-out for the dedication they show to this tiny school that packs a punch.

For World Teachers' Day, with the time I have left I want to celebrate and recognise a number of teachers around the electorate, not in any order but perhaps of some significance, those who are being recognised for their service. Karen Bromley, from Kapunda High School, was nominated for the 2024 Public Education Awards and was also a finalist for the Innovation in Teaching and Learning category. Her commitment to providing the most innovative and highest of quality teaching at this high school continues to impress.

The Kapunda town is really lucky to have such a significant high school. We know they have been through another setback with the fire, but the students and the school curriculum are winning awards for their trade in restoration of the Eringa Homestead. However, it is the agtech and agricultural education curriculum that comes up time and time again, and how important it is for our students, particularly in country SA but even in the metropolitan area, to learn more about the importance of our agricultural industry. We see the benefits stemming from space and defence innovation and how that translates back to farming practices.

To zip over to Balaklava High School, I want to give a mention to Ms Sally Cowan and congratulate her on her 50 years of service as a teacher. She has dedicated her entire career to that school. Balaklava is another big country community that is well served by its primary school and its public high school as well as the Christian Horizon School. This is an opportunity for me to farewell principal Michael Clisby, who has serviced that school community for a long time. We wish him well, and look forward to his replacement.

Just over the hill, through the Halbury Pass, is the campus in Clare, ably led by the head of the school, Mr Bill Greenslade. I also give a shout-out to Mrs Sonya Ottens and Sam Wundke, who do fantastic things at that site with their leadership and pastoral care.

I also want to recognise Ms Courtney Adams, the principal of Wasleys Primary School, which marks its 150th anniversary. I attended that event with the member for Light, and I think everyone in this chamber would share in recognising how fantastic our teachers are.

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