It’s Showtime! Many local shows are occurring over the next few weeks – and how wonderful is it to have them return?
I am glad to see towns such as Donald, Kaniva, Boort, Rainbow, Mildura, Nhill, Barham Koondrook, Charlton, Dimboola, Jeparit and Stawell amongst others see their shows returning in the coming weeks.
I had the pleasure of attending the Warracknabeal Ag Show this week, and despite the rain and mud, enjoyed wonderful country hospitality and saw the skills and creativity of locals. We have much to be proud of in our Ag Shows, and I think the submissions of our younger generations is very encouraging indeed.
The Warracknabeal Primary School grades all contributed wonderful class artwork, but I was particularly struck by the grade 5 and 6 research project. They had paired up to answer 5 questions:
1. Identify and discuss the key features of the Australian electoral process, 2. Describe the roles and responsibilities of the three levels of government within Australia’s federal system, 3. Discuss the meaning and importance of the values and principles of Australian democracy such as freedom, representation, majority rule, equality, fairness and justice, 4. Discuss how laws are developed and enforced in Australia, and 5. Identify what it means to be an Australian Citizen.
The students could answer just one of the questions, but the learning for the class is impressive to say the least. I took this as a moment to reflect on what these values mean to all of us and how we often do not specifically think about such things in the busyness of day-to-day life.
Last year in one of my Parliamentary Committees, we looked at the issue of political knowledge in the Australian population. There is a concern that many people do not understand the electoral system and their democratic rights and privileges. There is a strong link to our education system not teaching students about these issues. I am pleased that the Warracknabeal Primary School is clearly doing so.
