ASPIRE – MACKENZIE THOMSON AND KATELYN LAWRENCE

Ms JENNY AITCHISON (Maitland—Minister for Regional Transport and Roads)—Congratulations to Mackenzie Thomson from All Saints College and Katelyn Lawrence from St Joseph's Lochinvar on their roles in the recent ASPIRE performance of The Pirate Code. ASPIRE is the Maitland/Newcastle Catholic Schools Office creative and performing arts program. Each year ASPIRE creates an original production and students are required to formally audition for dance, design, drama, vocal, stage band and production ensembles roles. This year's production the Pirate Code followed a group of pirates on the hunt for lost treasure and on the way proved that women make the best pirates and included powerful music from the fan favourites like Queen, Adele and Pat Benetar. Mackenzie Thomson played the lead character of Captain Lucy and Katelyn Lawrence was a solo vocalist in Captain Lucy's crew. Following six months of rehearsals for the cast and crew of over 150 students, the production was performed to sold out crowds over four days at Newcastle's Civic Theatre. I congratulate Mackenzie, Katelyn and the whole ensemble on their hard work and commitment and also thank the hard working and dedicated teachers who run the ASPIRE program each year.