Legislative Council Chamber,
NSW Parliament House, 4 November 2002
"Having the right to vote in an honourably conducted election is one of
the most precious rights which we have."
Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir,
in her speech to the convention
On 4 November, primary students from 19 NSW schools met in the Legislative Council Chamber of the NSW Parliament under the banner 'Voting Counts!'. This was the fourth Henry Parkes Citizenship Convention for Primary Schools. The first in 1999 had considered the issue of Australia as a Republic, the second in 2000 had explored Reconciliation, and the third in Centenary of Federation year, had discussed multiculturalism - 'Unity and Diversity: Living in Australia'.
With the assistance of Graham Spindler and Daniela Giorgi from the Parliamentary Education and Community Relations Unit, we had invited participation from more than 100 government and non-government schools. These were in Henry Parkes' old Sydney electorates, as well as two country schools - Parkes Public (previously known as 'Bushmans'), which had been established by Sir Henry at the request of the people of Parkes, and the public school in Faulconbridge, where Henry had established his Blue Mountains home.
As we had been unable to include Parkes and Faulconbridge schools in last year's Federation Conventions, this year the Foundation offered them grants from funds earned from some of our Federation activities to enable them to participate. Parkes Shire Council matched our grant to help their school with accommodation and travel costs .
Twenty schools accepted our invitation (although one dropped out on the day). They were sent resource material along with a discussion plan which looked at voting at school, at the local level, and at the state level. Each school then sent four delegates to report on these discussions at Parliament House. Some schools broadened their participation by interviewing their local councillors and attending local council meetings.
The President of the Upper House, Dr Meredith Burgmann, allowed the use of the Legislative Council Chamber and presented certificates from the Foundation to each school, while the Hon. John Watkins, Minister for Education and Training, opened the Convention. Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir was our first speaker, followed by Associate Professor Elaine Thompson from the UNSW School of Politics and International Relations. Both speakers fielded questions from the students after their talks and joined them for morning tea .
Cherie Burton MP for Kogarah chaired the Convention and participants were welcomed by Emeritus Professor Peter Webber Deputy Chair of the Henry Parkes Foundation.
Themes that came through all the speeches and school reports were the value of the vote to ensure fairness and the need for everyone to care for and consider one another.
Participating schools
Balmain Public School
Beecroft Public School
Darlington Public School
Double Bay Public School
Faulconbridge Public School*
Haberfield Public School
Holy Innocents Public School
Hunters Hill Public School
Lane Cove Public School
Loreto Kirribilli Junior School
Mowbray Public School
Parkes Public School*
Plunkett St Public School
Queenwood School for Girls
Redfern Public School
Ryde Public School
St Peters Public School
St Pius X College
Ultimo Public School
Willoughby Public School
* The Henry Parkes Foundation provided grants to these country schools, and Parkes Public School was also assisted by Parkes Shire Council.