Sydney convention: Legislative Assembly Chamber, NSW Parliament House, 29 August 2005

As usual we invited participation from schools in Henry Parkes' old Sydney electorates and two country schools which have a special link with Henry Parkes - Faulconbridge and Parkes public schools. The NSW Parliamentary Education and Community Relations Unit offered guidance with resource material and suggestions for a discussion program.

The surprisingly resurrected Henry Parkes (alias Allen Powell) chaired events and students were welcomed on behalf of the Foundation by Deputy Chair Peter Webber.

Dr Keith Suter from the Wesley Centre, a long-time worker for peace and human rights, gave the keynote address. He spoke of the challenges facing schools in helping their students to "maintain social cohesion and reduce social isolation; encourage a climate of hope rather then fear; and take an interest in social justice issues." He noted the different types of human rights: civil and political (for example, free speech, right to vote, right to assemble), economic, social and cultural (for example, holidays with pay, equal pay for equal work), and the newer human rights such as peace and a healthy environment, as well as the collective right to self-determination, such as rights for Australia's Indigenous peoples.

He also noted that the basic 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights ends with the word 'duties', which he said belong both to the community and to the individual, with the need "to respect the rights of others. We cannot take the fruits of the human rights revolution for granted - we need to work at it."

Ms Maisie Warburton from the Australian Friends of Burma then provided a case study on social justice around the world, focusing on Burma and Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who still remains under house arrest today. She quoted Aung San Suu Kyi's vision "...to see our younger people stride confidently into the future, their richness of spirit soaring to meet all challenges".

The students were very keen to share their research, and their understanding of citizenship and social justice was evident from their presentations.

This convention received wider publicity than usual, with Dr Suter appearing next day on 2GB Sydney. He said he had been impressed by the students' contributions, especially those which drew attention to what they could do themselves. For example, one school was collecting old books for projects assisting other children to learn to read; others were working to help improve the quality of school life, such as stopping bullying, learning about other cultures, inviting speakers to the school from local cultural groups in their own community and celebrating special local cultural events.

Participating schools
Balmain Public School
Blessed Sacrament School
Darlinghurst Public School
Faulconbridge Public School*
Holy Innocents Public School
Hunters Hill Public School
International Grammar School
Linfield Public School
Loreto Kirribilli Junior School
Mowbray Public School
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Primary School
Parkes Public School*
Plunkett St Public School
Rainbow Street Public School
Ryde Public School
St Peters Public School

* The Henry Parkes Foundation provided grants to these country schools, and Parkes Public School was also assisted by Parkes Shire Council.