Maitland Stars of Aspire

Ms JENNY AITCHISON (Maitland—Minister for Regional Transport and Roads)—Congratulations to students from across Maitland who starred in the recent ASPIRE production of Disconnected. Blake Skafte-Grieve, who is in year nine at St Bede's Catholic College, Chisholm, played Daniel the lead character, who lives in a town where no one cares that the town crier has been fired and everyone is obsessed with their phones - until the internet is mysteriously cut off. Other students from across Maitland proved that talent really does run in the family in Maitland. Congratulations to siblings Leo and Lily Dyre and Ava and Emma Whiting from All Saints College Maitland on their roles in the production. Ensemble members spent the past school holidays with more than 150 students from across the Hunter Catholic diocese, rehearsing ahead of the week long production. The students ran lines, perfected their positions and performed costume checks in their respective dance, vocal, design, acting and instrumental ensembles ahead of the final performances. ASPIRE is an audition-based drama, dance, music and creative performing arts program that provides quality training for students from Years 5 to 11. It is an initiative of the Catholic Schools Office, Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle. Congratulations to all involved in the production.