Page 1033 - Week 03 - Thursday, 21 March 2019
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Recently, I had the pleasure of participating in celebrations at Lyneham Primary School and Lyneham High School, two wonderful public schools in Kurrajong that are celebrating their 60th anniversaries this year. Both schools are celebrating 60 years of educating and nurturing Canberra’s children and providing support, guidance and care for the young people of Lyneham and surrounding suburbs.
I had the opportunity to attend Lyneham Primary School’s 60-year anniversary assembly, representing Minister Berry. The assembly was a chance for the school and community members to reflect on 60 years of success, of growing with the community and becoming a school that holds a cherished place in the lives of all those who have passed through it.
There are generations of students and families who have attended this school since it opened in 1959. We heard from one former student, Marilyn, who attended Lyneham primary followed by her daughters. Now her two young granddaughters are happily settling into primary school. Marilyn’s connection to Lyneham primary, spanning three generations, shows the significant role a school can play not only in building strong communities but in the lives of families.
When I arrived at Lyneham primary I was greeted by a number of young students in the foyer. It was clear how happy and full of pride these students were to be welcoming people to their school. I am sure their enthusiasm and pride for Lyneham primary will continue long after they graduate.
The assembly was an opportunity to recognise Stan Melville, who passed away last year. Stan was the principal of Lyneham primary for 17 years. The significant contribution Stan made to not only Lyneham Primary School but to the Lyneham community as a whole was obvious from the words shared by current teachers and parents. I was fortunate enough to know Stan and his family from the local pony club. It was wonderful to see his wife, Denise, and children, Philip and Katie, at the assembly.
Naturally, many students from Lyneham primary move on to Lyneham high. So it was very fitting that the anniversary events for Lyneham High School took place not long after the celebrations for Lyneham primary. This celebration was a particularly exciting one for me. Not only was I able to attend representing the minister for education, Ms Berry, and as the local member for Kurrajong, but I attended as a graduate of Lyneham high. I passed on greetings from another graduate of Lyneham high and fellow member for Kurrajong, the Chief Minister, who graduated a couple of years after I did.
It was fantastic to speak at the 60-year anniversary assembly and share some memories from my time at Lyneham, memories like participating in the school musical, an absolute highlight of my time at Lyneham. The song that went through my head a couple of days before was not the Lyneham high song but the first few bars of the song from Starblaze, the year 8 musical in which I participated. I did not have a lead role, but it was wonderful to be able to recite a few bars of that song—not singing—at the assembly. It is really great to see how the performing arts continue to be such a strong focus at Lyneham.
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