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Giraffes are native to which continent?
“I also undertook Extension Studies through Flinders University, where I did a health topic in semester one, and a nutrition topic in semester two,” Gemma said.
“These topics were challenging as I did them online with little support, but I am very glad that I completed them as I got a great taste of ‘uni style’ learning and my results, one distinction and one high distinction, substantially increased my ATAR.”
Despite her best planning, Gemma still had to juggle her other commitments in Year 12 and it was a year of sacrifice.
“I had to scale back a lot of my extra curricular commitments in Year 12 because my studies quickly became more allconsuming than they ever had been,” she said.
“I worked every Saturday morning at San Piero Coffee Bar and during the first half of the year, I also worked a few nights a week and on Sundays for my own business, Sunnyvale Horse Riding, in which I did pony rides for young kids but I had to eventually stop this as school got more stressful.
“Apart from school and work, the only other thing which I made time for was exercise. I love being active and know how important it is for my mental health and to keep me sane while studying. I would go for a walk/run everyday, and played netball through the winter months.
“Unfortunately, my life did not feel balanced, and it honestly felt like I was studying every waking moment. I started to feel quite miserable by the end of Year 12 after having to give up most of my hobbies and miss out on a lot of fun events, but I knew it was only for a year and it was simply a sacrifice which I had to make.
“Now that school is over, I feel as though I have much more free time, even while working a full time job. I have been able to start horse riding again and also take up many new hobbies such as swimming, tennis, reading, listening to records, and spending much more quality time with family and friends.”
When you delve into Gemma’s study habits two things are not surprising – one, that she had such successful Year 12 results and it is clear her study methods left little time for those outside interests she was prepared to forgo in the interests of achieving her best.
“The only thing which worked was being extremely consistent and disciplined, and essentially making school my only focus in life,” Gemma said.
“Time management is extremely important, staying on top of assignments and knowing when things will be due.
“The other main thing which helped me was the way that I approached studying. In previous years, I would study in order to remember the content.
“This year, I studied in order to genuinely learn and understand the content, rather than just remember it.
“This meant that I could easily apply my knowledge and achieve high marks no matter how tests or exams presented the questions.
“The best method I found for understanding the content was to receive it in many different forms.
“First my teacher would tell me the information, then I would read about it in the textbook, watch YouTube videos, draw diagrams, and talk to my classmates.
“No matter how the information was woven into a test, my understanding would be solid enough that I could get the correct answer.”
That kind of dedication to a task required support, not just from her teachers but also her family and they were a huge part of Gemma’s Year 12 triumph.
“Without a doubt, Mum and Dad were my biggest supporters through Year 12,” she said. “Although neither of them are conventionally academic and couldn’t directly help with my studies, their indirect support in other areas made all the difference.
“This included lots of little things, such as Dad feeding the horses for me at night when I had a test the next day, or Mum bringing me cups of tea and snacks while I studied.
“This took an immense amount of pressure off me and allowed me to fully focus on my studies and give up other commitments when needed.
“They also provided encouragement for me to keep going, while also helping me recognise when it was time to step back a bit and rest. We are a close-knit trio, and I cannot express how grateful I am for their help this year and always.”
Public houses built in South Australia must use products manufactured in this state, under groundbreaking mandates introduced by the Malinauskas Government. It’s the first change announced as a result of sweeping and broad reforms to government procurement – a Labor election promise which will benefit local businesses, manufacturers and workers. From now, South-Australian manufactured products must be used on public housing construction and maintenance programs, where available. The policy will ensure local manufacturers and SA businesses benefit from the Malinauskas Government’s $177.5 million commitment to build 400 new affordable homes and refurbish a further 350, to help those most in need during a stressed housing market. The South Australian Housing Authority will release tenders for construction of 103 homes, including the first six homes at Broadview this week, which will also require South Australian workers be used for a minimum of 90 per cent of labour hours, with 20 per cent of those being supplied by apprentices, trainees, Aboriginal workers or the long term unemployed. Setting an example for the broader industry, the government will require core products used in construction to be manufactured here in SA, including bricks, timber frames, concrete, reinforcing steel, steel frames, windows, security doors and steel for roofing, fencing and rainwater tanks.
The South Australian Forest Products Association (SAFPA) has welcomed the new policy.
SAFPA chief executive officer Nathan Paine said this was a big win for manufacturing industries in South Australia, particularly the forest industries, giving such sectors a boost of confidence and recognition by the State Government.
“Timber frames are a core manufactured product in South Australia that supports our residential construction and building industries, and we are pleased that locally grown trees will be building and refurbishing affordable public homes for South Australians,” Mr Paine said.
“The South Australian forest industries processes about 35 per cent of Australia’s structural house framing timber and about 25 per cent of the nation’s particleboard, and its great news that this policy will support our domestic manufactured product over imported product thereby support local jobs.
“Not only will this initiative be supporting forestry, but it will be supporting job creation in our regions, our local and state economy and most importantly, our regional communities who rely on thriving forest industries.
“Also, with Timberlink expected to complete their new CLT and GLT plant in Tarpeena this year, it will secure the South East as one of Australia’s leading timber manufacturing regions, unlocking further economic activity for the region.
“SAFPA are pleased to welcome the State Government’s announcement and look forward to supplying South Australia’s building and construction industries with our locally grown timber.”
Australia Day message from Member for Barker
On Australia Day we acknowledge and celebrate the contribution of every person to this land, from the indigenous people who have been here for more than 65,000 years to the new immigrants who will become citizens this week. We are all Australians. We all share a stake in our future. We all have responsibilities to each other. We all have something to celebrate. Australia is a vibrant, thriving country because we have successfully blended our Indigenous heritage, our British inheritance, and the cultures of the many migrants from around the globe that have come to call Australia home.
Our history has been complex, and we should reflect upon the sacrifices many have made along the journey of this great country, the challenges we have faced, losses felt and the adversity we have overcome to stand here as Australians. We should also take a moment to think about how lucky we are.
Australia Day is a proud day for the many thousands of people who will join our Aussie family and become Australian citizens.
To all our new friends and neighbours, we say welcome. Love your country, be proud of who we are and what we have achieved. Be proud also of our Flag. Our Flag binds us together as a symbol of aspiration and unity that has flown now for more than a century. On the 26th of January celebrate what it means to be Australian. Happy Australia Day.
Tony Pasin MP (Federal Member for Barker)
