Warren Entsch (Leichhardt, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

ENTSCH () (): Presenting certificates at end-of-year school award ceremonies is something I look forward to each year. It's a time when school communities come together to recognise the achievements of students throughout the year. This year I presented awards at Kuranda District State College; Redlynch State College; Cooktown State School; and Cape York House—for the graduating boys and girls. Sadly, given Queensland's quarantine requirements and the vast size of my electorate, I couldn't attend more.

One of the things that strikes me about these ceremonies is the air of excitement among students, teachers and families. End-of-year awards night is a great celebration. It's a celebration of excellence, whether it be academic or sporting. For some it's the end of a chapter in their lives, and there are thousands of students across my electorate who are now about to embark on a new chapter in their lives. For some, their formal education will have finished. For others, they will get to enjoy their summer holidays before embarking on vocational and tertiary studies in the new year. Attending these recent presentation nights made me cast my mind back to when I finished school. I finished on a Friday afternoon and started work as a 14-year-old in the job on Monday morning!

Finally, I'd like to take the opportunity to wish all of those students across my electorate who graduated this year the very best for their future endeavours.