They may have only been leaders for a short time, but Griffith’s latest crop of school captains were asked to hit the ground running by Griffith Mayor John Dal Broi at a special reception on Tuesday morning.
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Speaking to the crowd gathered at the Griffith Regional Theatre Cr Dal Broi said he would be writing to all of the school captains in the area and asking their opinions on some of the issues facing the city, including the proposal to merge the city’s high schools and the move and redesign of the skate-park.
“I want your ideas,” Cr Dal Broi told the youth.
“I can guarantee you that we as councillors will not be using the skate park.”
Cr Dal Broi emphasised he and his senior management team were interested in the opinions of the city’s students on whether they would prefer a new $45 million school, or for the schools to remain separate and split $10 million in funding between them – as it would be many of them who felt the actual effects of any decision that is made.
“I know that your parents have strong ideas, but what are your ideas?” he asked them.
“You are the future leaders of this community and I hope you will embrace this concept.”
The common sense approach of consulting the ideas and opinions of those who would be most effected by the issues was a hit with many of the students gathered, including the captaincy team of Griffith Public School.
Laura Dreyer, Sialava Asomua, Jet Smith and Wilson Qereqeretabua said they were impressed by the Mayor’s announcement, and more than ready to add in their two cents.
“It is really good they want to ask our opinions for things like the skate park because they won’t play on it like we do, they do need to make sure we will like it before they build it,” Wilson said.
His peer 12-year-old Jet was similarly eager to be consulted.
“These are the issues that effect us and I think they should be asking us what we think,” he said.
After listening to the speeches made, not only by the Mayor, but also by Federal Member for Farrer Sussan Ley and Member for Murray Adrian Piccoli the four Year 6 students said they felt an increased responsibility as leaders amongst their peers.
In particular, Mr Piccoli’s reminder that as a student himself he had looked up to his school’s leaders and that captains should always endeavour to make their peers proud, hit home.
“It was an honour to be named a school captain, and I felt very emotional, but it is a big responsibility to our classmates,” Laura said.
