On Friday, May 26, Brian Mercer represented Adventist Schools Victoria in the Upper House of Victorian Parliament to celebrate the beginning of financial support for nongovernment schools by the Victorian Hamer Government, 50 years ago.

This government legislation enabled Christian schools to provide a financially viable choice in education. Mr Mercer was one of five speakers to speak to the implications of this choice and to praise God for enabling our schools to be established as a result of this action. He spoke of the challenges now facing Christian education, including the implications of legislative change and challenged schools to remain true to their Christian values. Pr Graeme Christian and Dr Daryl Murdoch, along with a number of Adventist school principals were also present at the celebration.