Karen McNamara (Dobell, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Last week I joined with students at Tuggerah Public School to celebrate National Literacy and Numeracy Week and to participate in Read for Australia. Tuggerah Public School may be known as 'the little school on the hill' but they definitely have a big heart.

The week celebrates learning and raises awareness of the importance of reading, writing and maths skills. Read for Australia saw parents, teachers, students and school community members take part in a simultaneous reading of the book Sunday Chutney by Aaron Blabey. Congratulations to Mrs Duke for her outstanding reading of Sunday Chutney, which was thoroughly enjoyed by the students at Tuggerah Public School.

One of the many privileges of my role is spending time in our local schools, meeting with teachers, students and parents, and witnessing firsthand the latest teaching techniques and the outstanding school communities we have in my electorate on the Central Coast. In the age iPads, iPhones and e-books, it is extremely important that children still experience the joy of reading a book.

National Literacy and Numeracy Week encourages families to embrace the benefits of reading and to cultivate a culture of enjoying books at home. Every day, whether it is in our schools or in our homes, we should all celebrate books, numeracy and literacy with our children.

In closing, I would like to thank the students of Tuggerah Public School, Principal Evan Campbell and Assistant Principal Chad Tsakissiris for welcoming me to their school and joining me in celebrating National Literacy and Numeracy Week.

See this speech in context