Friday 6th December 2024
Open Monday - Saturday, 10am to 4pm. Closed Tuesday 5 November
CELEBRATE YOUR DIFFERENCES
Two things are going through my head right now. ONE is how nervous I am feeling right now speaking to you all And the second one to be honest is way more important. As I look around I can see so many smiling, bubble, enthusiastic faces. I love books and my favourite subject at school was English so I’d like to think of you all as stories waiting be read in front of me right now. What’s amazing about that is that you are all the main character and every story is different. No two stories are the same and in order to grow and develop it’s important that we learn and read each other’s stories so that we can continue writing our own. Australia is one of the most multicultural countries in the whole world. 50% of Australia’s population was born overseas, that means we have people from England, New Zealand, China, India, Vietnam, France, Spain, Italy, Greece, Sri Lanka, South Africa and many, many other countries around the world. That’s amazing because we can learn so much about other people and celebrate the differences that make us unique. NUMBER 2TRY YOUR BEST
Going to school means that all of you get to learn about all sorts of subjects, Maths, Arts, Humanities, Sports, Sciences. Sometimes that means working out new and exciting material that your teachers help you with, or doing homework to make sure that you understand what you have learned. What I want to remind you of today is one of the MOST IMPORTANT bits of ADVICE that I am 100% sure that every single one of your teachers would agree with and that is to TRY YOUR BEST. We already discussed how we’re all different, right? So that means not everyone enjoys the same subjects – that’s why at school you get the chance to experiment and try lots of them. Every single person here today has a talent, has potential to do amazing things in the future. Whether you want to be a baker, a teacher, a lawyer, an electrician, a gardener, an artist, or a fashion designer CHASE your dreams by giving everything you do YOUR BEST SHOT. Trying your very best in all you do it what counts. NUMBER 3STAND UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT
Life can be tricky for all of us in different ways. It can be easy to lose sense of what’s important, trust me I do it all the time. In our day to day actions if we all try and remember to be honest, to be kind, to be generous, to be thankful and respectful and to do good for others then we’re on the right track to helping each other out. Because that’s what makes Australia great – is being there for your mates. Supporting them. Standing up for them and giving them a helping hand when things get tough. NUMBER 4SPREAD LOVE AND LIGHT
This leads me to number 4 which is to spread love and light. How do you feel when someone gives you a smile, or a big squeezy hug? It makes you feel warm and fuzzy on the inside and I don’t know about you but it helps keep a smile on my face for the whole day. How amazing is it YOU could make someone’s day by giving them a smile? Life’s better when we love each other, when we support each other – everyone wants to feel loved and everyone wants to share love. There’s plenty to go around so at some point today try to give someone a smile and see how wonderful it makes THEM and YOU feel! NUMBER 5JUST BE YOU
To finish off I am going to share with you one of my most favourite quotes from the only and only Dr. Seuss:Today you are you that is truer than true There is no one alive That is youer than youSo what do we all have to do today – the answer is much simpler than you think and its what I want you all to remember more than anything else: If you celebrate each and every weird and wonderful thing that makes YOU unique everything else will fall into place.
So today JUST BE YOU – because you are ALL AMAZING.