Thursday, 2 May 2024

Dandenong Primary School

Gabrielle WILLIAMS (Dandenong – Minister for Government Services, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Public and Active Transport) (09:49): It is with great pleasure that I rise to congratulate Dandenong Primary School on a truly terrific milestone: 150 years of fostering the educational achievement of kids in Dandenong. Dandenong Primary first opened its doors in 1874 and has been a constant as the electorate has evolved from a rural town to a thriving metropolitan hub. In that time we have also become Australia’s most culturally diverse community, with over 158 different nationalities, over 100 different faith groups and more than 200 different languages spoken. These days the school very much reflects the diversity of the community that it serves so well.

Schools do not thrive for 150 years without exceptional staff, so I want to use this opportunity to say thank you to all the teachers and support staff who make Dandenong Primary School the place that it is but particularly to principal Daniel Riley, who tirelessly advocates not only for his school but for the families and community that make up that school community. It is worth mentioning that since its inception Dandenong Primary has produced some pretty significant alumni, among them Prime Minister John McEwen, journalist Joe Hildebrand and arguably perhaps most notably the member for Bayswater in this place Jackson Taylor – an alumnus that they are very, very proud of at Dandenong Primary School. He is certainly doing them very proud in his role in this place. In all seriousness though, congratulations to the school community on 150 years. I am looking forward to being there for the celebrations on Saturday.