Charlotte Varcoe
STUDENTS from Melaleuca Park Primary School have expressed their enjoyment of visiting the South Australian Parliament.
During Week Three, students travelled to Adelaide on a three-night camp following extensive support from many local businesses.
The Grade Five and Six students were provided with many learning experiences including a visit to the Planetarium, Adelaide Zoo, Westbourne Park Primary School, Bounce as well as the Museum and Art Gallery.
Additionally, they were also given a guided tour of Parliament House, covering learning about the three levels of government, parliamentary process, building history and participated in a role-play debate to learn about the passage of a Bill in the House of Assembly.
Minister for Primary Industries and Port MacDonnell resident Clare Scriven joined the students for part of the tour where she shared details about her role in Parliament and answered questions.
Following the trip, Ms Scriven also visited the students at their school and handed them a Parliament pin each.
Melaleuca Park Primary School student Evelyn said she enjoyed lots of things about the trip to Parliament House including sitting in Ms Scriven’s chair.
“The experience to Parliament was inspiring, but I do not think I will go into Parliament when I am older,” Evelyn said.
“In the future I see myself as an artist or a teacher, but I would still visit and have a tour with my family.”
She said she learnt it took a lot of effort to become a Member of Parliament.
“I learnt the colour red, which we saw in the red room, was considered royalty once because red dye was really expensive,” she said.
Fellow student Paige said the most enjoyable part of the visit for her was when she was selected for the role as the speaker.
“I got to dress up and take part in a mock session,” Paige said.
“I do not want to go into Parliament because I will be working with my Mum and staying in Mount Gambier but I learnt about the speaker when I was there and that the houses were green and red.
“Meeting Minister Scriven in person was good because I only get to see her on my Mum’s fridge on a magnet and I also liked getting a badge from the Minister when she visited our class.”
Lacey said she was “kind of” inspired to enter politics when she was older after learning about some of the history of Parliament and meeting Ms Scriven.
“I also enjoyed acting out as if we were working at Parliament,” Lacey said.
Ms Scriven said it was fantastic to welcome the students into Parliament on their first school tour.
“Students got the opportunity to learn how Parliament works, how legislation is passed and debated and the mock debate was on banning homework which was fun and engaging,” Ms Scriven said.
“I was delighted to then visit the students at their school last week and present each student with a Parliamentary pin.
“They also had a number of insightful questions about Parliament, policy and becoming a Parliamentarian.”
