THE Governor of New South Wales, Margaret Beazley, said meeting a student from Moree Secondary College at Government House last year gave her more reason to visit the black-soil plains.
Her Excellency and her husband, Dennis Wilson, enjoyed and extended visit to the Moree district, where they visited schools, community organisations, agriculture industry stakeholders and Moree Plains Shire councillors and staff.
Her Excellency was applauded for spending nearly three days and two nights in Moree.
“I don’t believe in whistle-stops,” she smiled.
At Moree Secondary College, Her Excellency reconnected with student Maverick Noakes, who was last year recognised in NSW Parliament for his outstanding contribution to the Moree community.
“Last year, I was at a Commonwealth Day luncheon at Parliament House,” she said.
“The luncheon provides two scholarships, and attending was a young Year 11 student from Moree, Maverick Noakes.
“Maverick was a recipient of this scholarship. To receive it, he came to the big smoke and presented himself to a group of people my age and older,” Her Excellency said.
Maverick received the prestigious Tom Harvey Award for Citizenship under the Australian Youth Trust during a parliament house visit that included an evening with the Governor for himself and parents, Michael and Karren.
Maverick is an inspiring Moree Secondary College student, and deeply entrenched in the Moree Clontarf Academy program.
“Her Excellency’s visit to Moree Secondary College was an unique opportunity and meaningful experience for students to meet the Governor,” Maverick said.
“This is something that doesn’t happen often for a school like ours, to get the opportunity to connect with someone in such an important role.
“Her visit made us feel acknowledged and recognised for our achievements, goals and struggles, as we toured her around our spaces such as our Yarning Circle which was introduced last year as evidence of student-voice collaborating in culture.
“We also presented our student-voice projects that we are currently working on this year, which allowed us to give her an insight into the rationale for change in our school environment that is inclusive of student-voice and to be more welcoming to the school community.
“It was encouraging to see someone who represents leadership, service and dedication take the time to recognise what we’re doing at our school,” Maverick said.
Her Excellency makes no secret of the fact she is a big fan of the Clontarf Academy, an Australia-wide program that supports, mentors, educates and encourages Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander male students to finish school and gain employment.
Using a holistic approach, Clontarf boosts school attendance, fosters life skills and uses sport to engage students, while improving confidence and wellbeing.
“The Clontarf program is one of the most positive things happening for our young people,” Her Excellency said.
“I would like to see programs for young indigenous female students strengthened as well. I’ve seen the sister program to Clontarf – the Stars Foundation – at Inverell High School.
“I spoke to the girls in the program, and the difference it has made to them in a very short period of time was very similar to the Clontarf boys.
“Attendance at school went up. They felt more accepted within the school community and because they were attending school their performance went up,” she said.
“They bonded together, and when they bonded together that enabled them to bond more widely across the school.
“Their talents are being recognised and they are given the opportunity to show those talents,” Her Excellency said.
Her Excellency acknowledges Moree has problems, but says stories like Maverick Noakes and others like him are uplifting and inspiring.
“Why wasn’t this story on the front page of Sydney newspapers, particularly when the press has offices downstairs in Parliament House,” she asked.
“When I said we must go to Moree, the town was in the news for reasons all locals know only too well.
“Yes, there are a small number of kids that do need a lot of help, and the families need a lot of help to support the young people needing this help.
“Let’s find the wherewithal to have that support while at the same time build everybody up.
“You certainly have to recognise the problems – you can’t make things better if you don’t.
“But, by the same token, you have to celebrate the wonderful things that are going on, and the wonderful young people making these things happen.
“These are the things I like to talk about. Not talk up, but talk about – tell those stories because they’re such positive, uplifting stories,” she said.
“To be quite honest, stories like this give me my material, if I can put it in those terms.
“Sometimes, people might comment on a speech I make and I tell them, I can only make good speeches because I have good material,” she smiled.
Words: Bill Poulos
Images: John O’Connor
