Schools Spectacular 2008

Mr PAUL GIBSON (Blacktown) [5.29 p.m.]: I refer to a great event that took place last week—the Schools Spectacular celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary. The Schools Spectacular provides the best entertainment anywhere in the world. I have attended 21 of these events, which seem to get better every year. I have attended shows at the West End—on occasions the Assistant-Speaker and member for The Entrance has attended them with me—and I have attended shows staged on Broadway, in Copenhagen, Sweden and Portugal, but there is no better show than the Schools Spectacular. Three and a half thousand children perform at the same time and each year thousands of teachers give up their free time. People often wonder what level of education students are receiving in our State schools. I can inform them that we have a healthy education system.

Tonight I pay tribute to Mary Lopez—the voice and image of the Schools Spectacular. Twenty-five years ago Mary Lopez was the artistic director for the first Schools Spectacular. I am sure no-one would begrudge me saying that for the past 25 years she has been the Schools Spectacular. Mary is a great director and a dear friend who has been good to me over the years. She has done a wonderful job. First and foremost, Mary is a parent and a teacher who studied at Newcastle, taught music in the coalmining town of Lithgow and later worked at Balgowlah Boys High School and Epping Boys High School. In 1984 the education department asked Mary to work with the young talent in our State. Mary took up the challenge and each year we have the greatest show on earth.

Mary's great love for Australia has always shone through and is epitomised in every production—whether it is the outback, indigenous people, or those who fought for this country and did us proud. In 1991 Mary was the co-founder of the Talent Development Project. On Australia Day Mary was appointed a member of the Order of Australia. In 2007 Mary received the Variety Humanitarian Award and she was referred to in an article in the Sydney Morning Herald as one of the most influential people in this nation. Over the past 25 years more than 1,000 teachers and 50,000 students have participated in the Schools Spectacular and more than 500,000 guests have attended that event. As an artistic director and educator, Mary has given us a wonderful legacy. She is someone about whom we should all be proud.

Some of today's leading entertainers in this nation participated in the recent Schools Spectacular—Nathan Foley from Toukley Public High School and Newtown High School; the McClymonts from Grafton High School; Emma Pask from Kirrawee High School; and Shannon Brown from Wollongong High School. Lorenzo Rositano from Jamison High School is so good that he will probably end up being one of the greatest opera singers in world. Human Nature from Hurlstone Agricultural High School performed on the night, as did Paulini from Bankstown Girls High School, Travis Collins from James Meehan High School, Macquarie, Darren Coggan from Wagga Wagga, and Roshani Priddis from Tamworth High School, who performed on Young Talent Time and, more recently, on Australian Idol. Another person who performed on the night was Robert McDougall from Oxley High School in Tamworth. All the young stars, the dancers, the musicians and everybody else who participated in the recent Schools Spectacular will be big names in the future. I thank Mary Lopez for the wonderful job that she has done in giving young kids an opportunity to showcase their talents to the world. It gives their parents great joy. She has also given great joy to everyone who has had the pleasure of attending the Schools Spectacular over the past 25 years.

Mr PHILLIP COSTA (Wollondilly—Minister for Water, Minister for Rural Affairs, and Minister for Regional Development) [5.34 p.m.]: I congratulate the member for Blacktown on referring tonight to the great Schools Spectacular. I have had a long association with the event and I congratulate Mary Lopez on the great work that she has done. Over the years I have attended quite a few events. I congratulate Diane Dunne who has worked with the Schools Spectacular for many years. I had the privilege of teaching Travis Collins. As I said earlier, I have had a long association with the Schools Spectacular. I worked with the high school band, which for many years played in the foyer and entertained those who attended the event. I applaud schools from across the State for the wonderful work that they do. This program showcases our talent and our outstanding teachers bring out the best in our children. As the member for Blacktown said, the event has been running for 25 years, and I am sure it will run for another 25 years. I thank the member for Blacktown for bringing this matter to the attention of the House.