Cathy McGowan (Indi, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I would like to welcome proudly to the parliament today nine leaders from Indi. To Hannah, Will, Riley, Caleb, Mark, Quin, Brody, Lindsay and Jacqui, as our leaders, I would like to thank you for what you have done and for what you will do. I acknowledge the work that young people do in my electorate and I commit to be your representative in this place. Some of these young people are from Victory Lutheran College and are accompanied by principal John Thompson. I take this opportunity to acknowledge Victory college, and I thank the board, the 80 staff and the people who look after the 670 children who go to this wonderful school and their families.

Victory was established in 1992 by the Wodonga Lutheran parish, and since that time it has gone from strength to strength. It plays a critical part in our community. Over lunch with these young leaders today we had the opportunity to talk about the issues facing young people in Albury-Wodonga. We talked about the role of politics in influencing law, of the importance of turning up and having your voices heard. Today I have committed to return to the school in particular next year to talk to these young people about youth mental health and what I might do in my role, and what together we might do to address the scourge that is hitting our community. I welcome these young people.