Chris Bowen (Prospect, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Last week I was saddened to learn that Mr Phil Tucker had announced his retirement as Principal of Westfield Sports High School. Westfield, which is in my electorate, is the first sports high school in Australia and it is, frankly, one of the best schools in Australia. It was Phil Tucker’s idea to set up a sports high school and he has led it for many years. Westfields Sports High School is recognised internationally as being world’s best practice. In fact, delegations from the following nations have visited Westfields Sports High School to learn about how they operate: Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and India. Those nations have set up schools based on the Westfields model. As well, the school has had visitors from the USA, Croatia, the Netherlands and Denmark to see how it operates.

As I said, Westfields Sports High is one of the best schools in Australia, either public or private. It is the best school in New South Wales officially in softball, netball, rugby union, basketball, athletics and cricket. To see this, all you have to do is visit Westfields Sports High and see their hall of fame where every Westfields Sports High student who has ever represented Australia has their photo on the wall—and there are about 100 across the range of sports. Just in the recent soccer world cup, four members of Australia’s team were students from one high school—Westfields Sports High School in my electorate. This included Harry Kewell, with whom I had a very happy childhood, growing up in the same street. We used to play soccer in our cul-de-sac and I am sure the House will be shocked to learn he always used to beat me.

Jason Wood (La Trobe, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Name dropper.

Chris Bowen (Prospect, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What is interesting about Westfields Sports High School is that their achievements are not just in sport; their achievements have flowed over into other areas. Before Mr Tucker took over Westfields, it is fair to say that their academic achievement was below the state average; now it is way above the state average. There is a feeling of excellence about Westfields Sports High when you walk in. The excellence on the sporting field means that their students have been motivated to achieve excellence academically and in the performing arts.

Not just this but also there is a great feeling of community spirit at Westfields Sports High. Under Phil Tucker’s leadership, a public school in Western Sydney raised through their own fundraising $1.5 million for public works, including a world-class gymnasium and a world-class sports medical centre. I recently took John Coates, the President of the Australian Olympic Committee, and Michael Knight, the former Minister for the Olympics, to Westfields to see what work they were doing to contribute to Australia’s Olympic success. Both of those men were very impressed. I wish Phil Tucker all the very best for his retirement.

Harry Jenkins (Scullin, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Whilst the chair is of course neutral on contributions by members, I note that the honourable member for Prospect did not claim to have taught Harry Kewell everything he knows about football.