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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2019-10-16 Daily Xml
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Adelaide Christian Schools

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (15:25): I recently had the privilege of representing the Minister for Education at Temple Christian College’s opening of its new outdoor area at its Paralowie campus, as well as its annual Thanksgiving service. It was great to visit the school and see how it has grown and developed and to have the opportunity to address its impressive staff and students as part of the occasion.

I had the pleasure of getting to know many of those who are part of Temple’s leadership team over the years, whom I have known outside of my employment. It is certainly always an honour to be involved in the events of their school and indeed all of the outstanding schools that fall under the banner of Adelaide Christian Schools. In fact, many years ago I donated $500 of my own resources to starting the school when they were doing a fundraiser to get an amount of money together in order for them to commence building.

For those members who are not familiar with Adelaide Christian Schools (ACS), its fundamental role is to oversee, govern and support numerous independent schools, primarily in South Australia although elsewhere as well. The schools are all coeducational and have several structures, including early learning to year 7, years 7 to 12, and reception to year 12, depending on the particular school.

Under the current leadership of Mr Kym Golding, ACS aims to provide a learning environment founded upon the Christian principles that the schools hold dear. The schools are governed by a board, with membership comprising individuals with vast experience and expertise from a variety of industry sectors, which works closely with committees and advisory groups from each school community to invite local input.

At present, ACS oversees 11 schools with approximately 2,300 students and in excess of 250 staff in total, with each educational facility offering its own distinctive qualities that focus on the role of the family in education, character development and excellence in academics.

The Sunrise Christian School located at Wattle Street in Fullarton was the first ACS school and was the initiative of late senior pastor of Adelaide Christian Centre, Leo Harris. His vision for a Christian faith-based school was endorsed by his church and a school steering committee was established way back in 1977 for his idea to be realised. That school, of course, is still there today and operates very successfully. Pastor Leo personally contributed to the initial donation to launch the project back in 1978, and Sunrise Christian School commenced, as I said, at Wattle Street in Fullarton.

There are now further Sunrise Christian Schools operating at Paradise, Morphett Vale, Marion, Naracoorte and Whyalla. My family is actually a beneficiary of Pastor Leo’s endeavour, with my own daughter attending one of their schools. Each location of Sunrise Christian School has its own campus principal and a team of committed staff to support the academic, social and spiritual needs of each student.

As passionate educators, they are constantly striving to be innovative and progressive in their cultivation of a family-oriented learning environment, where the next generation of leaders and influencers can be inspired, motivated and empowered so that they have every chance of reaching their potential at key stages of their development. I can personally attest to their ability to successfully engage students to achieve this. It has been a wonderful experience being part of the school’s community as a parent over the last seven years.

After the establishment of Sunrise Christian School, the need naturally emerged for a secondary school in which graduating students could continue their education. In response, the Adelaide Christian Centre formed a committee led by Pastor David Rodway, which formed Temple Christian College. Temple opened in 1983 with 35 year 8 students and two full-time and three part-time teachers under the principalship of Mr Bruce Robson in hired facilities at Tabor College. In 1984, the school purchased and moved into the Thomas Hardy building at Mile End, where it grew steadily.

The neighbouring property, Tintara House, was then purchased in 1998 under principal Mr Brian Hagger AM. In the year 2000, Bethany Christian School in Paralowie approached Temple to start a new secondary school campus adjacent to their reception to year 7 school. As a result, Temple Paralowie began in 2001 and has grown significantly, with students at the campus eventually outnumbering those at Mile End.

Mr Marcel Rijken, a member of the Temple teaching staff since 1987, succeeded Mr Hagger in the role of principal in 2007 after Mr Hagger retired at the end of 2006. I know both Mr Hagger and Mr Rijken personally, and I commend them both for their notable contribution to Christian education in South Australia. In fact, Mr Hagger was invested as a Member of the Order of Australia just this year in recognition of his significant service to education, to independent schools and to the community of South Australia. This prestigious honour is very well deserved. I congratulate him and all the staff at Temple and at Sunrise schools right across South Australia and elsewhere.

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