Our Candidates

Download the Upper House (LC) How to Vote. 

Throughout his career, Khalil Khay has shown dedication and commitment to high quality collaborative education and instructional leadership. This is evident in his leadership of school teams, professional learning for principals and executives and in his passionate support of lifelong learning. With over 30 years in education, Khalil has served to improve student learning, professional learning, instructional leadership, and socio-emotional outcomes across NSW. His experience involves work across the early childhood, P/K-12 and university sectors and includes roles in teaching, mentoring and senior leadership capacities. Khalil has also been a university councillor.

His collaboration with tertiary colleagues has embedded new theoretical insights and recent research findings into his work as a leader. Khalil has provided consultancy and advice to university thinktanks and government agencies; his breadth of knowledge across effective curriculum, leadership practice, engagement with the community and students learning pathways being vast.

Khalil Khay, Dr Paul Brock Medal Citation- National Fellowship ~ Australian College of Educators.

As a former principal and chairperson of the Public Schools Principals Forum, and member of the NSW Ministers Advisory Group on Literacy and Numeracy (2012 – 2015), Cheryl McBride continues to advocate for improvement, excellence and equity for all students in NSW schools.

Cheryl was a long-term school principal based in South-West Sydney. She led many campaigns to improve the provision of resources to students and public schools. This includes specialist provision for students with disabilities, additional funding for schools in socio-economically disadvantaged areas, improved support from community services for students with need for learning adjustments. Cheryl advocates for world-class curriculum, professional development of staff and to assisting all students to achieve their potential across NSW.

Cheryl McBride, OAM, President of the Public Education Party, (M Ed, B Leg S, Gr Dip Rem Ed, Dip Teach). 

Gemma is a former public school principal, with 37 years of service in the public education system. She had a varied teaching career as a K-6 classroom teacher and as an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher. Early in her career Gemma taught in the Adult Migrant Education Service, and later worked for the Department of Education as an ESL consultant in the south west of Sydney. As a Senior Education Officer in the Department of Education’s Gender Equity Unit, she developed policy, resources and conducted training and development throughout NSW. As a primary school principal, Gemma was an enthusiastic and energetic leader who promoted excellence in education based on the principles of equity and strong educational outcomes for all students.

Active in the NSW Teachers Federation throughout her career, Gemma held positions at school, local association, and state levels. She was a member of the Teachers Federation Executive for eight years, holding the position of Vice President for five years. Gemma represented the Teachers Federation on a range of external equity and professional learning committees.

Gemma was awarded the Australian Centenary Medal in 2001 for her contribution to education. Gemma is a passionate and proactive supporter of public education. She has been active in professional and industrial organisations throughout her career supporting students, staff and parents to realize their potential.

Robyn is a retired Secondary Principal who has spent 43 years in public education serving lower socioeconomic communities to provide opportunities for young people to fulfil their potential regardless of their economic circumstance. She has been a teacher of PDHPE, Mathematics and Behaviour classes, Head Teacher of PDHPE, Welfare, Teaching and Learning, a Drug Education consultant and subsequently a Deputy Principal for ten years and Principal for eight. Robyn has gained great satisfaction in supporting teachers in public schools to reflect on and improve their teaching practices and supported schools to improve growth for all students.

Robyn is also an Olympic Hockey player, having captained the first Women’s Hockey Team to the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984. In 1983 Robyn was named in the World 11 at the Women’s World Cup in Kuala Lumpur. In 2011 she received the Order of Australia for contributions to Women’s Hockey for her commitment to coaching of local junior and senior teams for over 30 years. Robyn is passionate about the important role public education plays in developing a democratic society where all young people have an equal opportunity for success. She believes funding equity is foundational for this to occur and every student should be fully resourced based on need.

• Glen Stelzer for Balmain
• Marianne Glinka for Bankstown
• Thomas McBride for Barwon
• Robyn Leggatt for Fairfield
• Kevin Farrell for Murray
• Gary Hampton for Northern Tablelands
• Gillian Bramley for Orange
• Raymond Gentles for Wagga Wagga

for Balmain.

Glen’s work as an educator has been primarily focused on supporting students and families in low socio-economic and multicultural communities to realise their life dreams.

He studied at Peakhurst West Public School, Peakhurst High School, Goulburn College of Advanced Education, University of New England and Charles Sturt University. He holds a Diploma of Teaching in Primary Education, a Bachelor of Education in Administrative Leadership and a Masters of Educational Administration.

As a student, parent, teacher, executive and principal who has enjoyed great success and satisfaction in the public education system for 57 years, Glen highly values the important role that public education plays to ensure that all students are properly supported to achieve their personal, intellectual and social potential in an equitable and free public education system.

for Northern Tablelands.

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.

for Murray.

Candidate for the Public Education Party at the NSW Election

• Born in Griffith and attended Griffith Public School and Griffith High School, of which I was School Captain in 1959.
• Represented Griffith/NSW as a finalist in the Australian Swimming Championships in backstroke in 1961 & 1962. I am an “Original Griffith Blacks” Rugby player.
• Won a Silver Medal at the 2009 World Masters Games in Sydney (50m Breaststroke).

Career In Education:

• Teaching qualifications: BA, English and History (Sydney Uni.), Dip. PE (Sydney TC).
• Teacher at JJ Cahill MHS, 1967-68; Granville South HS, 1970; Castle Hill HS, 1971; NSW Health Education Secondary Adviser, 1972-76; Head Teacher, PE Tamworth HS, 1977-81 HT PE/H Bomaderry HS, English/History Teacher Griffith HS, 1987-91; PDHPE Head Teacher Springwood HS, 1992-1993 NSWDET Senior Curriculum Adviser PDHPE, 1992-93 Griffith District Office Professional Development/Curriculum Manager.
• Principal of Ardlethan Central School 1994-2005.
• President of the NSW Teachers Federation PE Teachers’ Association.

Community Life:

• President of Tamworth Pirates RFC, Shoalhaven Water Polo Club and Ardlethan Sports Council.
• Coached Griffith Swimming Club 1960-64
• Yenda Rotary Club Member 2007-2023; President Yenda Rotary Club, Rotary Paul Harrison Fellowship.
• Elected Central Schools representative on the Executive of the NSW Secondary Principals’ Council 1999-2004.

Commitment to Public Education:

I have been a passionate advocate for Public Education, Public Schools and Public School kids all of my life. I have written many letters on public education to the SMH and other local newspapers and have been frequently interviewed by ABC radio and local radio as an outspoken public education advocate. I have been advocating for over twenty years for Public Education candidates to stand for election at Federal and State elections.

My goal as a Public Education Party Member of Parliament is to advocate for proper management and funding for public schools in NSW and across Australia. I am a fearless critic of political actions by educational management, politicians and lobbyists for private education funding at all levels. I’m the person who stands up at meetings and calls out people who want to make ludicrous, unethical and anti-public education statements. For the past five years I have been an outspoken critic of Adrian Piccoli’s unwarranted, unjustified, totally disastrous, forced merger of Griffith HS and Wade HS.

I seek the votes of Murray electors to support my quest to ensure that public schools receive fair funding and qualified teachers and specialists in every public school classroom and public school.