Mr MATT KEAN (Hornsby) [7.17 p.m.]: One of the great privileges of my job as a local member—one of the perks, if you like—is being able to participate in Education Week. Last week I had the opportunity to see firsthand the great things achieved day in, day out by our talented students and dedicated teachers.
We are privileged to have a wonderful group of passionate school principals, teachers and other school staff within the Hornsby electorate who ensure the highest level of educational opportunities are provided to our students.
I would like to personally acknowledge the following school principals: Maree Sumpton of Hornsby North Public School; Vicki Redrup of Hornsby Heights Public School; Terry Griffiths of Asquith Boys High School; Diane Bower of Berowra Public School; Rita Trovato of Asquith Public School; John Paterson of Mount Colah Public School; Jeanie Brown of Brooklyn Public School; Sally Till of Cowan Public School; Jennifer Davey of Hornsby South Public School; and Glenn O'Neill of Mount Ku-ring-gai Public School.
Education Week in Hornsby provided an opportunity for our local schools to exhibit their academic strengths and outstanding results, quality arts, sports, gifted and talented programs and extracurricular activities, with a focus on teaching strong values. During the week I was treated to a spectacular art show at Hornsby North Public School, excellent sportsmanship and sporting ability at Hornsby Heights and Asquith, remarkable music and performance at Berowra, Mount Ku-ring-gai, Hornsby North and Mount Colah schools, academic excellence at Hornsby South, and the creative writing talents of our students at Cowan and Brooklyn.
The students and teachers of New South Wales public schools in Hornsby are creating the future and empowering a new generation of young people to make the most of their talents. Whether I was opening an art show or mini-Olympics or participating in a kindergarten or year 2 maths class, my visits enabled me to better understand the passion the school staff have towards education and the children with whom they work. Each child has a gift, and the teachers and staff at each of the schools I visited work with the children to allow them to realise their potential and fulfil personal goals. Each school that I visited has its own unique atmosphere and learning environment. But each school and its respective staff also share a common ethos: the nurturing and development of children.
From teaching literacy and numeracy skills to fostering crucial life skills, such as teamwork and sharing, the school staff play a critical role in developing the children's wellbeing. Australia is one of the world's most advanced and developed countries. This can be attributed in large part to the strong educational standards and values that we in this country have built. Without committed and energetic school principals and teachers our country cannot continue to lead the way with respect to innovation, entrepreneurialism, research and development.
I am proud to represent an electorate that characterises the educational excellence that all communities should aspire to achieve. I am immensely grateful for the professionalism and dedication shown by our school staff. I take this opportunity this evening to thank teachers, students, parents and citizens associations, parents and local community volunteers for their hard work, planning and supervision during Education Week events. Their dedication ensured that Education Week 2012 in Hornsby was a wonderful success. I was indeed privileged to be part of it.
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