Matt Williams (Hindmarsh, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

From early childhood through to primary, secondary and higher education, education has always been a strong policy interest area of mine. My father is a teacher and being a father of young children myself—I am a former member of the governing council of my children's school—it is only natural that this is a passionate area for me and I enjoy getting out to the local schools in my electorate of Hindmarsh.

In recent weeks I have had the pleasure of visiting a number of schools doing some great things. I recently enjoyed visiting Forbes Primary School in South Plympton, St George College and Torrensville Primary School and meeting with principals and discussing the federal government's continued investment in education and other matters relating to improving education outcomes for our children. I want to thank principals Mr Ian Elliott, Ms Gina Kidas and Mr John McKaid for taking the time to meet with me. I am always impressed by the diversity in our schools and the efforts by our teachers to make a child's future their priority.

I was pleased to be invited along to the Ascot Park Primary School 'middle school panel' where students are asked to present their chosen topic to a panel made up of various members of the community. My thanks to Principal Greg Cox for including me. I enjoyed the opportunity to be a panel member and meet some wonderful students.

I was also very impressed by my recent visit to Westport Primary in Semaphore Park where Principal Rebecca Huddy and her staff are doing wonderful things. I would like to take this opportunity to thank and congratulate Amy Detbangon, a student at Westport Primary, whose artwork was chosen for my Christmas cards this year.

Finally, I was privileged to attend St John the Baptist Catholic School's 80th birthday party. This event was a terrific celebration of the Plympton school's commitment to education in the community, and I would like to thank Acting Principal Josette Charles for her invitation to attend.