Ms JODIE HARRISON (Charlestown—Minister for Women, Minister for Seniors, and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault)— Sister Pat Davidson has been a mainstay at St Paul's Primary School in Gateshead for more than two decades, and recently celebrated her eightieth birthday at the school.

A dedicated teacher for more than sixty years, including serving as principal of St Pius Windale and other schools in the Hunter Region, Sister Pat's commitment to education started in her childhood. She was raised at the Monte Pio Girls Home and Orphanage in Singleton, and joined the Sisters of Mercy Convent—the nuns who ran the Monte Pio facility—at the age of nineteen. Starting off with no formal qualifications, she learnt the basics of teaching from senior nuns before completing a diploma and earning her Bachelor of Education in Melbourne.

Sister Pat now spends a lot of her time teaching children who are having trouble with their literacy, helping young people to achieve their goals. She was something of a quiet trailblazer in this field, teaching phonics even before it was part of the curriculum! Sister Pat is a beloved member of the St Paul's Gateshead school community and the importance of her work cannot be overstated. Happy birthday, Sister Pat, and thank you for everything.

A Community Recognition Notice is an opportunity for an MP to submit a short statement praising the work of an individual or group in the local community. If you have any ideas about people I can recognise with a Community Recognition Notice, please email and let me know!