Today I rise to acknowledge Mr Mark Bonnici, who will retire as principal of St Edward's College in East Gosford at the end of the school year. Mr Bonnici has led St Edward's for almost a decade, but his service to the college began long before that. As a PE teacher, he taught young men about their physical health and mental health, and the importance of looking after both. As a doctor, I can tell the House that so much of a person's health is shaped long before they ever sit in a GP's surgery, and teachers like Mr Bonnici play a big part in that.

As a principal, Mr Bonnici placed social justice at the heart of the college. Under his leadership, St Edward's has stepped up its fundraising for disadvantaged communities in Kenya and its support for local organisations helping people doing it tough on the Central Coast. Leading a school is not just about the students in front of you; it is about an entire community of young people, their families and their staff who serve them. Over his career, Mr Bonnici has shaped the lives of thousands of young men, giving them quality education and a commitment to justice, to peace and to standing up for those who are less fortunate. Mr Bonnici, on behalf of the people of the Central Coast, thank you for your dedication, your leadership and indeed your service, and I wish you a long, happy and a well-earned retirement.