House debates

Thursday, 9 March 2023

Statements by Members

Coomera Anglican College

1:54 pm

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

I've spoken many times in this place about the importance of education and the major impression that teachers make on their students right across this great country. Last month I had the honour of attending the commissioning service for the new school principal at Coomera Anglican College. It was an honour in many respects—firstly, because it involves education but, secondly, because their new principal is only the second in almost 30 years of the school's history.

Coomera Anglican College was founded in January 1997 and caters for students from prep right through to grade 12. The founding principal of the college, Dr Mark Sly, has stepped aside after more than 26 years in the top job. When Mark helped to launch the school all those years ago, cleaning toilets and mowing lawns were all part of the job of the school principal. When the school began, there were only 60 students on the roll, a handful of teachers and support staff, and an empty paddock where the school now stands.

Mr Patrick Innes-Hill comes to Coomera Anglican College after roles in a variety of schools across the Gold Coast and in New South Wales. His vision is to enable all the students at Coomera Anglican College to make a real difference in the world. I look forward to working with Principal Innes-Hill in the future, and I'm sure that everyone at the school and in our community wishes him all the best in this new chapter as the principal of Coomera Anglican College.