Page 908 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 27 February 2013

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Gift of Life is the peak body for organ donor awareness in the Australian Capital Territory and surrounding districts, and I place on record my thanks to the president, Mr David O’Leary, and his committee for ensuring this very important issue is being progressed and highlighted wherever possible. I also acknowledge the work done to promote and organise the walk this morning. It was a very enjoyable event, and I commend it to the Assembly.

Schools—visits by minister

MS BURCH (Brindabella—Minister for Education and Training, Minister for Disability, Children and Young People, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Women, Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Minister for Racing and Gaming) (7.05): I will be brief in speaking in the time left.

Since becoming Minister for Education and Training in November of last year it has been my privilege to visit many of the great schools that make up our education system and to meet the principals, teachers and parents. To date I have visited 13 schools, and I look forward to visiting them on a regular basis.

I went out to Torrens Primary School in November of last year to look at their new artificial grass installation. The kids are having a wonderful time on that. It was great to speak with the teachers; and I want to thank Sue Mueller, the principal there, for hosting me and providing such a nice morning.

Going to the Franklin early education school, I toured the facility before it was opened in November of last year and had the pleasure of being there on the first day of a brand-new school. Julie Cooper and her team did a fabulous job in welcoming the new parents.

I was out at Belconnen high to launch a Menslink program and toured the high school ahead of the refurbishment that is earmarked for Belconnen to the tune of $28 million. I want to thank David McCarthy and his team for that.

Also in December of last year I toured the Red Hill Primary School’s new $7.3 million enhancements, including classroom extensions, a school entrance facelift and an upgrade of the car park. Again the principal, Kate McMahon, who was new, has done a great job with the school.

Also last year before Christmas I visited Richardson Primary School to look at the new solar panels and tour the school. It was just a few days before break-up so the school was quite colourful, with Christmas and Santa Claus decorations.

At the beginning of the school term, for the first day of Charnwood-Dunlop, I visited there with Minister Garrett and had a tour of the school. Debbie Martens is the principal there. She certainly had the school in very fine order for the beginning of term.


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