Youngsters show pollies the way

Riverstone state Liberal MP Kevin Conolly


They’re often accused of being childish but it didn’t apply to the St John's Primary youngsters who visited State Parliament on a school excursion.

Riverstone state Liberal MP Kevin Conolly recently hosted Riverstone Junior School Leadership Forum students at Macquarie St where 32 pupils from 11 primary schools attended.

Future leaders got to quiz Mental Health, Women and Ageing Minister Tanya Davies and Education Minister Rob Stokes.

Mr Conolly started the annual event to inspire junior students in leadership roles to think more broadly about leadership in the community.

“It is also an opportunity for me to recognise the hard work that school captains and leaders give to their school communities” Mr Conolly said.

Participating schools were Mary Immaculate, Norwest Christian College, Hambledon Public School, John Palmer Public School, Parklea Public School, Quakers Hill East Public School, Riverbank Public School, Riverstone Public, Schofields, John XXIII Catholic College and St John’s primary.

The Deputy Speaker acknowledged students, who also watched question time in the Legislative Assembly, aka the bear pit, where they saw Gladys Berejiklian and other ministers locking horns with the opposition.

Hambledon Public School student Mia said the event was fun.

“I enjoyed it when the guest speakers came in,” she said.

“I really enjoyed meeting other schools and bonding with them. I think that Question Time was quite interesting.”

Mr Conolly then gave the students a personal tour of Parliament House.