OLD GUILDFORDIANS
Old Guildfordian of the Year
2020
Hon . Donna Faragher MLC JP , MEd ( Hons ), BA ( Hons ), GradDipEd
“ My six years at Guildford Grammar are filled with fond memories ... The values instilled by my teachers remain .”
Margaret Thatcher once said that the ‘‘ longest journey starts with the first step .” Indeed , the Hon . Donna Faragher ( née Taylor ) MLC ( Prep 1980-1985 ), Member for East Metropolitan Region and WA Shadow Minister for Education and Training ; Women ’ s Interests , has taken many first steps since walking into the Guildford Grammar School kindy room as a shy five-year-old in 1980 .
The remarkable achievements of Donna ’ s political career were recognised at the Old Guildfordians ’ Annual Dinner on 10 October , when former students and staff gathered to celebrate and applaud her selection as the ‘ 2020 Old Guildfordian of the Year ’.
Donna ’ s career in politics began during her final year of university when an opportunity arose to work for the then Federal Minister for Schools , Vocational Education and Training , Hon . Chris Ellison , as a research officer and later as a policy and parliamentary adviser in his subsequent ministerial roles .
At age 29 , she was elected to represent the East Metropolitan Region in the Legislative Council in the 2005 State election , making her the youngest female Liberal Party member ever elected to the WA State
Parliament . Donna held various positions in Opposition between 2005 and 2008 , including Shadow Minister for Disability Services , Youth and Drug Abuse Strategy , learning the ropes from other experienced members , including the ‘ 2016 Old Guildfordian of the Year ’, John Day ( Wb 1968-1972 ).
At age 33 , Donna became the State Minister for Environment and Youth – the youngest woman in Western Australia ’ s history to become a member of State Cabinet . She was the driving force behind Government policy to maintain and enhance WA ’ s unique environment for future generations and oversaw the establishment of the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority . As Youth Minister , she reinvigorated a number of State-wide youth initiatives and was instrumental in helping secure the Cadets WA program ’ s first funding increase in 14 years and expansion to include a junior cadet unit .
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