Wednesday, 3 December 2025

 Tim RICHARDSON (Mordialloc) (10:24): I want to pay tribute to an extraordinary education leader in our community Gavan O’Donnell, who has announced his retirement in our community, serving Catholic education for some 44 years, 35 years as a principal and, as many of my constituents know, as the principal of St Joseph’s Primary School for 20 years. A generation has seen his education and leadership and the transformation of that school community, and anyone that has been anywhere near Chelsea or that parish, the St Joseph’s parish area, admires his work and leadership.

I have had the opportunity to work with Gavan for a decade now and to see the transformation that has happened – the buildings, the upgrades to the halls, the Building the Education Revolution building upgrades. It is just some of that, but it is the personal stories of those students who have grown into the people who have lived and loved in our community over the years that really touch you. And then to hear a former student and then the school captain of St Bede’s College Maurice Kerbage give his reflections on the day was amazing. The outpouring of affection for an education leader who has transformed the lives of so many is something that we owe and is so fitting. His dedication was recognised recently with the School Innovation Improvement Award from the Victorian Association of Catholic Primary School Principals.

To Gavan O’Donnell, thank you for everything you have done on behalf of our community. You are a wonderful person, a caring soul. We will greatly miss you. You will not be too far away. Thank you for your leadership.