Looking through archives in the Office we came across a photograph of great significance. On 1 May 1981 the NSWPPA Executive comprising: Phil Bestick, Geoff AcAlary, Jim Rutherford, John Bremmer, Les Bonham, Edgar MacMicking, Fred Armstrong, Ken Dransfield, John Small, Keith Curry, Greg Taylor, Bernie Gregory, Doug Swan | Director General, Bill Supple and Bob Harbin met and held their first NSWPPA meeting. Colleagues many of you will recall and know. This photo is now framed and hung proudly in the Office of the NSWPPA.

For 42 years the NSWPPA has been operating. We can truly celebrate as we look back and recognise the significance of the achievements the Executive and membership of the day made. Building on the shoulders of giants throughout the years has indeed been a key feature of the work the Association continues to lead.

Every year of the Association’s history, the business of the Association has been the shining light and the focus – representing the Principalship to ensure policy, practice and procedures land in schools with the right resourcing to ensure the students of NSW are strongly supported. There is so much that could be said in this space about the support, advocacy, empowerment, and leadership offered and delivered on in the day.

Today I would like to acknowledge those who sat at this table and those who worked alongside them. 42 years on how proud they and their families and colleagues can be that their vision for what’s possible, is where it is today.

The NSWPPA has a strong and significant history, and this has paved a focused and vibrant future for the Association. We can all be very proud of the role the NSWPPA has played and continues to play in shaping and influencing NSW Public Education.