"Viv is a passionate advocate for parents and public education and we congratulate her on this much-deserved award," says Council spokesperson, Hugh Boulter. "She has been a long-standing Council President and the driving force behind several school P&Cs for over two decades."

"You simply couldn't tally the number of volunteer hours Viv has devoted to schools, education committees, parent representative forums and helping other parents have their say."

"This is the role of Council – to champion public education and advocate of behalf of public school parents – and Viv has been an invaluable part of that for years," says Mr Boulter.

Viv has been active in lobbying for the implementation of the Gonski report recommendations and, earlier, in opposing public school closures. She is a passionate supporter of improvements for special needs students, sustainable and safe schools, and curriculum review. Equally, she has fought against the misuse of NAPLAN data and reductions in specialist teachers.

May 29, 2015