Gordon Reid (Robertson, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to acknowledge a very special former assistant principal and teacher in my community on the New South Wales Central Coast, Mrs Louise Duck. Mrs Duck taught across New South Wales classrooms for the past 34 years, having started her career in the country at Cootamundra before accepting a position at Avoca Beach Public School in 1992. From that time, Mrs Duck quickly became a much-loved and appreciated member of the school community in Avoca Beach. At the end of 2025, Mrs Duck retired and is now enjoying a slower paced lifestyle on the Central Coast. Here is an excerpt from a beautiful message from the current school principal, Mr Thomas. He recently said this of Mrs Duck's time at Avoca Beach Public School:

For over three decades, Mrs Duck has given her heart, her energy and her extraordinary skill to generations of students. Her classroom has always been a place filled with warmth, curiosity, creativity and care. Thousands of children have learned, grown and found confidence under her guidance and many still speak fondly of the impact she had on their lives.

Mrs Duck has been much more than a teacher. She has been a mentor, a colleague, a friend and an integral part of the fabric of our school. Her commitment to our community, her unwavering kindness and her passion for helping young people succeed have left a legacy that will continue long after she steps out of the classroom.

So, on behalf of the entire Central Coast, I thank Mrs Duck for her service to our community and public education, and I wish her all the best in her retirement.

I also rise to acknowledge a recently retired schoolteacher, Mrs Christine Ryan, formerly of St John the Baptist Catholic Primary School in Woy Woy. Mrs Ryan taught at several schools during her tremendous career, which spanned a period of three decades and included schools in Europe and the United Kingdom. Mrs Ryan grew up in Sydney, achieving a Bachelor of Teaching at the University of Technology in Sydney in 1993, after which she taught at a number of schools across the city. After spending time in the UK and Europe, along with her husband, they resettled and worked in Darwin. Eventually the couple set down roots on the Central Coast in 2005. Mrs Ryan taught at St Patrick's Catholic Primary School in East Gosford, before starting work at St John the Baptist Catholic Primary School in 2022. Former principal Mrs Davies has perfectly captured Mrs Ryan's teaching ethos via the following words:

Teaching has never been just a job for Chrissy; it is a calling to nurture young minds, balance enduring principles with evolving research, and ensure every child feels safe, seen and valued. The trust families place in her has always been both a profound responsibility and a joy.

What teaching gives Chrissy is immeasurable: the joy of watching students grow in confidence and curiosity, sharing in their learning moments, and continuing to learn herself. Even after decades in the classroom, she remains committed to innovation while holding fast to compassion, respect, and human connection. Teaching has given Chrissy a life of purpose, growth, and community, and she is deeply grateful for the opportunity to continue learning and giving back.

Today I also rise to congratulate the Gosford Water Polo club and its men's and women's teams that have both won their respective finals at the New South Wales senior country championships in Albury, which took place on 23 and 25 January. This is now the third consecutive year that the Gosford Water Polo club has achieved this result. No other club has been able to win this many finals in the history of the competition.

I congratulate the following team members for their tremendous camaraderie and sporting success. In the men's team, we have Jai McNamara, Lachlan Walter, Max Elliott, Luke Hughes, Luke Stimson, Reef Potter, Declan Walsh, Owen Nash, Connor Bradshaw, Sandor Torok, Taine Beavis and Josh Pethers. In the women's team we have Jackie Morrison, Emily Grellman, Makala Kricak, Lauren Nugent, Rosie Stimson, Ellie Stimson, Harlei Kricak, Zoe Stimson, Taylah Tracey and Claudia Nugent.

Again, congratulations to both teams. I'm sure that you will all have celebrated this phenomenal outcome in true style. A special shout-out to all the behind-the-scenes club officials who work incredibly hard to support players pull off these wins too. So go Gosford Water Polo club!

Two urgent care clinics have opened in the electorate of Robertson, three across the Central Coast region, including a state based urgent care clinic at the Long Jetty Hospital, seeing thousands of patients and taking the pressure off our emergency departments right across our region. These Medicare urgent care clinics are for if you're too sick for the GP, but not sick enough for the emergency department. Finally, under this Albanese Labor government, you have somewhere to go that's bulk-billed for adults and children.