Mr QUICK (10:50 PM) —All of us in this place have schools visit Canberra from our electorate. They come here for a variety of reasons, but all schools make a real effort to visit Parliament House while they are in the nation's capital. I was delighted today to host two schools from my electorate: 60 students from St Michael's Collegiate and 17 students from the small school of Glen Huon Primary on their visit to Canberra. The subsidy which allows schools from the more remote regions to lessen the costs to students and their families of visiting Canberra is greatly appreciated by parents and schools. I know that there are moves to increase the amount in 2001 during our centenary year so that even more schoolchildren will experience just what takes place in this building.

All students who visit Parliament House visit the PEO, the Parliamentary Education Office, and participate in a range of role-play sessions that are designed to give students the opportunity to gain some insight into the workings of the parliamentary system. All of us in this place have sat in on those sessions and watched with real interest as these young people attempt to understand why we do what we do. We watch the teachers from the PEO take classes through the daily opening of the House and through the basics of the introduction of a bill and the second reading proceedings.

As a former teacher, I have always been impressed with the dedication and professionalism of the staff of the PEO. They encourage the children, either primary or secondary students, to have a go and to get a feel for what their elected members and senators do in their respective chambers. I have been privileged to serve on the advisory committee to the PEO for the last six years. One of the things that really impressed me about the PEO, apart from the fantastic work they do here in Canberra, is the outreach service they provide to teachers in distant parts of Australia. I really valued their visits to Tasmania and have been privileged to welcome teachers to the sessions held in the Tasmanian parliament in Hobart. I know for a fact that teachers in my state really value the sessions that the PEO runs with them and are very appreciative of their guidance and support.

Today is a sad day for the PEO and the House. Today is the last day for two of the shining stars in the PEO stable of superb teachers. Judy Gauld and Jennet Cole-Adams are leaving after long and meritorious service to take up staff positions at the Museum of Australia. Judy and Jennet are the very best of teachers. They have a love of learning and their obvious enthusiasm for their job is evidenced by the willingness of all students to participate in the various role-playing exercises they present for young students. I guess it is time for them to move on to pastures new and to assist in setting up the latest addition to Canberra's highlights, the Museum of Australia. I can assure you, Mr Speaker, the museum's gain is certainly our loss. I trust that both Judy and Jennet will have a wonderful new life just down the road from us, and I know that we will all miss them from in our midst. Their wonderful contribution to Parliament House will long be remembered not only by their work colleagues and the members in this place but also, more importantly, by the thousands of children who have passed through their hands in the countless PEO sessions they have conducted over the last eight years. It was a great privilege to have met you both and to have developed a real friendship in the time that I have been in this place. I can assure you that everyone in this House who has come into contact with them wishes them all the best for the future.

Mr SPEAKER —I thank the member for Franklin for his sentiments and say that I am sure all members of the House would want to be identified with what he has just said with reference to Parliament House staff.

Honourable members—Hear, hear!