House debates

Tuesday, 16 October 2018

Statements by Members

Forde Electorate: Beenleigh State High School

1:55 pm

Photo of Bert Van ManenBert Van Manen (Forde, Liberal Party) Share this | | Hansard source

I rise to congratulate a great school in my electorate of Forde for its outstanding educational and training activities. Beenleigh State High School, led by principal Matt O'Hanlon, has amongst its many subject departments a hospitality and agricultural department. Not far from the classrooms, you'll see the school's farm, with show chooks, laying hens, pigs, sheep, around 40 Droughtmaster cattle and some goats.

The highlight of the school year for the hospitality and agricultural students has become the Paddock to Plate luncheon. Just in case you're not sure, when they say 'Paddock to Plate', that's exactly what it means. The school supplied its own beef, pork, lamb, honey, strawberries and kransky sausages, from Gotzinger Smallgoods, for this year's menu. Paddock to Plate is an outstanding team effort led by the head of both hospitality and agriculture, Peta Lenane.

They provide a level of education that is unrivalled in this space across Queensland, and not only for Paddock to Plate. A number of their students also recently went to China to study at one of the leading hotels in China. I want to applaud Beenleigh State High School, all the students, the principal and all the teachers involved for the great work that they do in hosting some 200 local businesspeople and community representatives, showcasing the best of what Beenleigh State High School, in our region, has to produce.