Happy New Year to you all.

I’d like to start the year with a good news story.

Now, I’m a bit biased, as I was in the first intake of pupils at the then-brand-new Red Hill Primary School in 1960 — pupil number 441, to be exact.

I’m pleased to see that the school seems to be following a policy I implemented in 1995, which ensures all students participate in at least 150 minutes of physical activity per week while also utilising their P&C funds for ground and oval improvements. In the late ’90s, I am aware that Macquarie Primary followed this approach, maintaining approximately an acre of sports ground suitable for a rugby, league, or soccer-sized playing field.

The 1995 policy was the result of a large committee consisting of PE teachers, P&C representatives, and even my shadow Labor colleague Roberta McRae, along with our then-Green member Kerrie Tucker. As a result, everyone had ownership of the final outcome of their deliberations, and most people were very happy with it. The principal of our school at Jervis Bay told me that for 30 minutes before lunch, he ensured all his students burned off energy through PE. He found that after the lunch break, the students were much more focused and attentive during their afternoon lessons.

One of the advantages of schools investing in sports fields is that the community can also benefit from their use. I regularly played tennis at Kingswood Smith Kindergarten to Year 10 School on the bitumen tennis courts when I was the local member for Ginninderra, as they were open to the public and featured a steel net to prevent vandalism.

I was therefore delighted to see the Red Hill P&C establish a magnificent, well-maintained rugby/soccer field several years ago. The Red Hill P&C has since extended these facilities by adding a half-sized synthetic soccer pitch next to the field. Additionally, on the previously unkempt part of the old oval, they constructed a basic BMX track for the kids. They have also built a basketball court and a shaded area closer to the school.

I regularly see both fields filled with active, happy students during the school term. After school and on weekends, an increasing number of adult groups can be seen playing sports — often soccer, but also everything from frisbees and touch footy to goal-kicking practice on the fields, as well as basketball games on the courts.

So, well done to the Red Hill P&C and school community for this initiative. I commend it to other P&Cs and hope the current government continues to ensure that all its government schools, from K to Year 10, engage in at least 150 minutes of physical activity per week.

It’s common knowledge that healthy children perform better at school than unhealthy, unfit children. I believe the Red Hill school community deserves recognition from the ACT Government for their efforts on this initiative if they have not already received it.