IT’S hard to stand out from the crowd when there’s 1126 entries received from more than 200 schools right across Victoria for the annual 2024 Parliament Prize for engagement with civics and society.
But that’s just what the Wonthaggi Primary School has been able to do in the past week.
Students from the school and Grade 6 teacher Janine Wynen attended State Parliament last Monday, August 12 together with other winners from regional Victoria and Melbourne to receive acknowledgment for the efforts and a very welcome prize of $1000 in cash.
A spokesperson for the Wonthaggi Primary said the whole school community was proud of the work that the grade 6 students produced.
“Grade 6 students from Wonthaggi Primary School won the Alicia Katz award for an outstanding school contribution to the competition.”
The accolade is named in honour of the first female candidate to stand for the Parliament of Victoria in 1924.
“The students wrote passionate speeches covering a wide range of local, state and federal issues. The judges were impressed at how professionally the students spoke during their 90-second speeches.
“On Monday, August 12, six students travelled to Parliament House in Melbourne of behalf of the whole cohort to accept the award.
“We would like to thank Bsss MP Jorgan Crugnale for contributing a substantial sum to cover the cost of the bus.”
The 2024 Parliament Prize competition received a record-setting 1126 entries from pupils in grades 5 through to year 12 on issues important to them and their communities.
From issues as common as bus routes and music programs in school to teaching indigenous language and Auslan, the subjects addressed by students in submissions, and many in video were as widely spread as the schools which entered the competition.
The event was hosted by Shaun Leane, President of the Legislative Council and students, teachers and parent representatives heard from several other MPs.
Mabel Martin of St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Chelsea claimed first prize in grades 5-6 for her video statement on ‘Attracting wildlife back into native gardens’.
“Being engaged with what is going on in the world, in the state and what is going on locally is such a good thing,” Mildura MP and competition judge Jade Benham said.
Sigourney Crocker took out the top gong in years 7-9 on behalf of Lilydale High School for her contribution on ‘Recycling in Australia’.
“Words and the way you deliver them matter. Great speeches will be remembered for years to come,” Legislative Assembly Speaker Maree Edwards said.
Millyca Robinson and Kate Dickenson of Templestowe College were joint winners in years 10-12 for ‘All Victorian Primary Schools should teach Auslan’.
“Many of you in years 10-12 will be voting in the next election and it’s really important for you to be thinking about the issues that matter to you,” Eureka MP and competition judge Michaela Settle said.
Wonthaggi Primary School was presented with the Alicia Katz Award for making an inspiring contribution to the competition.
Legislative Assembly Speaker, Maree Edwards, thanked all entrants and congratulated all of the winners on behalf of the parliament.
“You should be very proud of what you have achieved,” she said.
The students, supported by their families and some of their teachers collected trophies and prize money for themselves and their schools.
