SPEECH BY COUNCILLOR STEVE GORDON
PRESENTATION AT COONAMBLE PRIMARY SCHOOL

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Good morning children. 

As you now know my name is Steve Gordon.

I am your representative on the NSW Wales Aboriginal Land Council. 

I am really pleased to be able to attend your school assembly today.

You might all be wondering why I am here? 

I am here to make a presentation to one of our Aboriginal students at your school, Tahleeta Fernando.

Tahleeta's family applied to the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council for one of our educational scholarship.

She was one of the fortunate pupils to win one.

It is my job here today to present Tah-leet-a with her lap top computer which her family has purchased for her as part of her scholarship to help her with her studies.

And I daresay it will also help her brother, too, who is in Year 7 at high school.

Tahleeta  congratulations.

Many people applied for scholarships. 

You were one of the lucky ones. 

But you deserved to be successful.  

I know from your Mum that you love school and she has told me how you have already been in your school's class for gifted and talented children and through that have already attended examinations run through the University of NSW.

What's more you managed to gain a credit in mathematics.

To you all, I urge you all - yes all of you  - to try your very best while you are at school. 

It can make such a huge difference to your lives.

Try and make sure you finish high school and maybe then you may want to still stay at school and go on to further education.

In today's world you will need a good education.  

You will need qualifications.

We in Australia have a really good public education system. 

Generally speaking we have really dedicated teachers.

They do their very best.

In turn I want you to do your very best, too.

I know your mum and dads would have the same wishes.

Make them proud.

Make everyone proud of you.

From me, my very best wishes for your future. 

Have long, happy and successful lives.

Thank you.