Candidate for the Public Education Party for the seat of Northern Tablelands at the 2023 NSW State Election
I have lived in Inverell with my wife , children and now grandchildren since 2010. I have also previously worked within the Northern Tablelands electorate and wider country NSW throughout my 34-year teaching career.
I have an extensive history of family members within the public education system, with my father as an NSW public-school teacher having the longest career from 1960 to 2000. I am proud to have attended public school throughout my whole school journey, starting with kindergarten in 1972 and finishing my HSC year in 1984.
Career In Education:
My strong commitment to public education is reflected in the following career highlights:
- (1989-1999): Teaching positions in NSW, mostly country areas.
- (2000-2010): Executive positions as a Deputy Principal, Head Teacher and two-year merit selected secondment to the Department Office based in Armidale to support regional schools. In 2007, awarded a New England Public Education Regional award for Excellence in Innovation in Education
- (2011-2022): Principal of three High Schools; Moree Secondary College-Albert Street campus, Warialda High and Illawarra Sports High, with retirement in December 2022.
Key Policy Areas:
(1) Although public school students, staff and communities produce very good academic, cultural, sporting and citizenship achievements , they would be better supported with the implementation of the fairer funding model called the ‘School Resource Standard’. I am fully committed to advocating this model to be applied immediately in 2023 to all public schools in the electorate.
Why is this not supported, and 100% funding levels implemented by the major parties?
(2) Advocating for applying the fairer funding model for young adults and adults within public TAFE, colleges and universities to ensure equity in future post school education pathways.
(3) Advocating for priority equitable funding of community needs in all areas of government . An example being, why did the Coalition provide 64 million dollars for the completed Wests Tigers High Performance precinct before the Glen Innes Hospital upgrade. Why did the Glen Innes community have to wait for the next round of 30 million in 2022 for a main building upgrade in late 2023 and a professional sport team in Sydney are now using the training facility? I will ensure Northern Tablelands community needs are prioritised over wants of metropolitan areas.
(4) Advocating for greater funding for the natural environment conservation and protection. The protection of biodiversity in local communities is key to supporting vulnerable and endangered plants and animals and this requires a higher priority in government funding. Our family project is planting woodland eucalypts/plants on our small property in Inverell and constructing wildlife boxes for installation to provide more shelter and nesting opportunities. We are focusing on restoring Box Gum/Blakely’s Red gum grassy woodland vegetation and turquoise parrots which are vulnerable and rarely sighted.