It’s a busy time here in NSW.
Last Friday our annual awards were hosted generously at the NSW Department of Education’s offices in Parramatta, with more than 120 in attendance. Each year the event grows in positivity, energy, and warmth, and this year kept that trend going. Parramatta turned on an exquisite evening for the welcoming drinks and canapes, setting the scene for an evening of collegial conversation across all three school sectors, and with award recipients coming from across the wide educational leadership landscapes of early childhood, school, and tertiary education.
A highlight is always our guest students who provide some musical support to the evening, and this year we were delighted to have students from nearby Parramatta Public School play under the direction of Martin Davison, Founder and Director of Band Together Foundation, whose vision is for all students to enjoy “the life-changing impact of music through school band programs”. It’s clear this is well on the way to being realised for the students at Parramatta Public School!
This year’s Dr Paul Brock Memorial Medal, our highest award, was presented to Distinguished Professor Emerita Viviane Robinson. It was an honour to have her in attendance, and a great credit to the flexibility of the NSW School Leadership Institute, with whom she is currently working, to facilitate her attendance. Thanks also to Secretary Murat Dizdar and his staff for their invaluable support to make the evening such a success.
Of course, such an excellent event is not possible without countless hours of dedication from the Awards Committee – Vicki Treble, Rhonda Kaidbay, Brenda Quayle, Amanda Conray, and led with distinction by Larissa Maraga. Special mention to Corinna Robertson who stepped ably in to cover for my absence, as my flight from Melbourne was delayed by the foul weather afflicting south-east Australia in the latter part of last week. It’s a wonderful example of the generous service Branch executives play, well supported by the tireless National Office Staff, especially Elaine Koh and Sharissa Temple-Smith.
We’ve barely time to breath before the National Conference descends on Sydney at the end of the month. Again, our Professional Learning Committee Chair, Sue Bryen, has been instrumental in the planning to “Amplify Every Voice” across September 29-October 1. Registrations are fast closing, so make sure you don’t miss out. You can register here.
Finally, there is a sombre air settling across the Branch, and the wider educational leadership landscape, following the passing on Saturday August 30, 2025, of Greg Whitby AM KSG. Greg made an extraordinary contribution to ACEL as a longstanding member of the NSW Executive, as a writer for Australian Educational Leader, and through the Leaders’ Lounge Podcast. He had a distinguished career as Executive Director of Catholic Education in both Wollongong and then Parramatta dioceses where he championed innovation with a restless curiosity, convinced that systems should, and can, be dynamic and positive learning communities. In 2007, Greg was a recipient of a National Presidential Citation in 2007. He will be greatly missed.
Vale Greg Whitby AM KSG.
Paul Kidson
ACEL NSW Branch President