Students put colour to the lives of Australian leaders

12-December-2011

52 grade 4, 5 and 6 students from Wantirna Primary School, have learned about the lives of Australia’s government leaders while painting colourful portraits that included the Prime Minister, the Queen and local State and Federal politicians, this year.

Alan Tudge MP, local Federal Member for Aston, was delighted to visit and speak to students at Wantirna Primary and watch a presentation about the Opposition Leader, the Hon Tony Abbott MP.

Mr Tudge said, ““It is wonderful to see students learning about politics and getting involved. “I am delighted that the students have shown a keen interest in learning about the lives and work of politicians, such as their careers before politics, Tony Abbott being a student boxer in his university years and the disappearance of Prime Minister, Harold Holt whilst swimming at Point Nepean.”

“The colour and expression captured in the portraits is a credit to each student.”

Teacher, Mr Alan Greenwood, said, “The students enjoyed a school camp at Point Nepean earlier in the year where they learned more about Mr Holt’s disappearance and Australia’s federation. Throughout the year, the students learned how to vote, about Australia’s the three levels of government and they participated in a “Vote for Me” campaign, where they had to think of reasons to have students vote for them. Its been wonderful to see them get involved.”

Pictured: Mr Tudge is shown a portrait of himself by Julia, Lidia, Blake and John, alongside portraits of the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard and her colleague, Mr Rudd.