Ross Vasta (Bonner, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'd like to take this opportunity to share with the chamber some exciting news out of Carina State School in my electorate of Bonner. During the 2019 election campaign I visited the school and learned how their quadrangle was unusable due to the searing sun at lunchtime. I committed to funding new shade sails to create a safe and cool space for students, and I'm very pleased to share that this project is now complete.

Funded through a $35,000 Morrison government community development grant, these new shade sails have absolutely transformed this space for the better. However, when I visited the school to see the completed project they couldn't shade the heat from budding young journalists, Erika, Mikayla, Safina and Khaow-Too. The students are part of Carina State School's magazine committee. They sat down with me for an in-depth chat about why I went into politics and to answer all their great questions. They asked me what advice I had for school captains when Liam, Addison, Macey and Sandy also joined the meeting, and I told them that leading by example and helping others is what makes leaders great.

The magazine committee did a great job in asking questions, recording my answers and even organising a photo. I have no doubt that I met some future journalists. Well done to the school principal, Libby Bond, and everyone else for working with me to get the shade sail project completed, in between managing home learning and coronavirus extensions.