A Belrose student, who left Kambora Public School earlier this year, has won the Bear Pit Public Speaking Competition, drawing on her former school’s looming closure to shape her speech.
A bittersweet achievement
On 19 September, 20 Year 5 students from public schools in the Northern Beaches addressed the theme “What does it mean to be a good friend?” in the Legislative Assembly Chamber. The winner, Sienna of Belrose Public School, delivered a speech recounting how she was uprooted from Kambora Public School at Davidson earlier this year and struggled to adjust.
Despite her reluctance, she described finding warmth, empathy, and acceptance at her new school in Belrose, illustrating the kindness extended to a child in transition. The event reaffirmed the values of connection and belonging in a time of uncertainty for many families.
A school in recess amid dwindling numbers
Just two days earlier, on 17 September, the NSW Department of Education formally announced that Kambora Public School would be placed into recess from Term 1, 2026. The decision came in response to a dramatic fall in enrolments, from around 280 students in 2018 to just 30—including only two in kindergarten—by 2025.
As students left Kambora at the end of 2024, more than 40 graduates and several transfers, the school consolidated into three mixed-age classes (K–2, 3–4, 5–6). Local families pre-empted the closure by enrolling their children elsewhere, including at Mimosa Public School just 1.2 km away, which reported 517 students in 2025.
Community voices and concerns
The transition of students like Sienna reflects more profound community unease about losing a local school. While the Education Department emphasised that nearby schools could accommodate displaced students, parents and community committee members cautioned that the impact extends beyond logistics. They argue Kambora has long been more than a campus — it has been a community node where children feel safe, known, and supported.
Lily Stewart, president of Kambora’s Parent & Community Committee, contended that the department missed repeated warnings as enrolments declined and failed to enforce local boundaries that might have stabilised the student base. As families begin the difficult task of relocating their students, she urged that support be tailored and community concerns be taken into account.
Context of closure in Sydney
The closure of a metropolitan public school in Sydney is rare. During recent budget hearings, education officials acknowledged that most school closures in NSW tend to occur in regional areas. The Kambora case thus stands out, especially as it coincides with falling enrolments across public schools in New South Wales, and growing competition from private institutions.
With heartfelt speeches, community attendance in Parliament, and the voices of displaced children now part of the narrative, the Davidson electorate is bracing for a shift in its educational fabric.
Published 3-Oct-2025
