- Home
- Hansard & Papers
- Legislative Council
- 5 December 2002
Young Achievement Australia Silver National Awards Tribute To Mr Sam Fiszman
Printing Tips |
Print selected text
| Full Day Hansard Transcript
« Prior Item |
Item 77 of 79
| Next Item »
Page: 7959
The Hon. AMANDA FAZIO [3.00 p.m.]: On 3 December 2002 I had the pleasure of representing the Premier at the Young Achievement Australia [YAA] Silver National Awards evening. I was greatly impressed by both the organisation and the young people involved in the YAA. The program, which was commenced in 1977 by far-sighted Australian business people, has grown beyond the expectations of those involved. Since 1977, 150,000 students have been through YAA programs. This year alone 11,000 students participated in the program. Young Achievement Australia is affiliated with Junior Achievement International, which has a presence in 111 countries. The YAA facilitates advisers and mentors from business and the community, developing business enterprise and entrepreneurial capabilities, capacities and enthusiasm in young people through running a real-life company.
The awards this year were very special as 2002 is the twenty-fifth anniversary of the YAA. It was interesting to note that some of the awards' sponsors have been involved with the YAA since its inception. The good work of the YAA was recognised by the international governing body at the recent Junior Achievement International and bi-annual conference in the United States of America in categories such as the media, in promoting business enterprise and entrepreneurial education; innovation, for the development of an enterprise company program that caters for tertiary students and indigenous Australians and for the development of the business enterprise program for students in years 6 through to year 10; and quality, which recognised the YAA's world's best practice which is backed by formal research. This year the YAA had a record 335 business skills student companies and it was also a record year for business enterprise programs Australiawide, with 152 schools having signed an annual licence. This success was achieved through the commitment of 600 schools, 22 universities and TAFE colleges, 1,600 volunteer mentors, and over 600 partners and sponsors.
It is pleasing to note that many government organisations also assisted the YAA program in this successful year. In an attempt to expand and provide even greater opportunities for students, the organisers are calling for additional support from the business community. They are seeking new partners, both big and small, and volunteer mentors and organisations to use the YAA program as in-house training to develop communications internally or a project to ensure that enterprises give something back.
The New South Wales winner of the Cochlear Innovative Product or Service Award 2002 was Yamble from Penrith High School for a pen that both writes and whites out. The YAA Business Plan Award 2002 and the IBM e-Commerce Award 2002 were both won by Yakas—which involves students from the University of Sydney, the University of Technology, the University of New South Wales and the University of Western Sydney—for an innovative rage of shot glasses. The YAA Company of the Year Award 2002 was won by Y-Axis for a collaborative effort by a group of government and non-government schools—Loreto, North Sydney Boys High School, North Sydney Girls School, Shore, Sydney Grammar School, and Wenona—which imported and sold a combined wristwatch/TV remote controller. The Computer Associates Enterprising School, Volunteer and Community Award 2002 was won jointly by Wyndah College at Quakers Hill and the community of Forbes. I strongly believe that the YAA program is worthy of support and I urge businesses in New South Wales to get behind it. I also thank the Chair of the YAA, Philip Holt, and the Chief Executive Officer, Dennis Doyle, for the hard work they have put into the program.
On Wednesday 3 December 2002 in this House a cowardly and unjustified attack was made on the reputation of a man who contributed greatly to his adopted country, Australia. Of course, I refer to the late Sam Fiszman. In recognition of his contribution to tourism, he was made an Officer of the Order of Australia. The life of Sam Fiszman was remarkable. He fought in the Warsaw Ghetto uprising and in the Russian Army and worked as a political and economic correspondent for the Polish, Russian and Eastern European Press in Paris before coming to Australia in 1948. In 1976, following the election of the Wran Government, he was appointed to the New South Wales Tourism Commission and then seconded by the Australian Tourism Commission. Premier Carr appointed him as the Chair of Tourism New South Wales in 1995 and he subsequently became the chairman of major events in the Premier's Department.
As well as contributing so much to promote tourism, especially in New South Wales, Sam Fiszman was a founding director and Life Governor of the Hakoah Club and a major supporter of many Jewish charities. He was also a great supporter of the Australian Labor Party. I assume that it was this association that led to the scurrilous attack on the reputation of a man who contributed so much to New South Wales and Australia. I place on the public record my appreciation of his contribution. I know that all other decent and fair-minded members will agree with me in condemning the comments made on 3 December 2002.
Last modified 05/12/2007 16:41:17 : Update this page