Wednesday and again today there will be tears of joy and perhaps disappointment as students absorb the information on their relative examination performance and contemplate opportunities which have arisen or perhaps been lost.

This has always been part of the HSC process and is brought into an especially sharp focus for those student intent on pursuing a tertiary education.

The message from educators and parents should be to celebrate what you have achieved academically, be open to alternative routes to your educational destination if your preferred route is blocked but above all cherish what your school and your education has done for you as a person.

Over the past few weeks every school in Orange has held its annual presentation and the common theme has been acknowledging the achievements of students in a range of areas.

Along with school and year duxes, there have been academic awards not just for the best in the year but for the most improved and the most conscientious. There have also been awards for citizenship, mentoring, achievements in sport and sportsmanship. 

Every award represents aspects of our children’s development which is important and which will stay with them for life - whether they realise it now or not.

Regardless of the recent political wrangling about the future of education in this country there is no denying that the vast majority of Australian children receive a school education which equips them well for life.

It does however come with these strings attached - that they make the most of their unique skills to secure their own future and they make a contribution to the community that today applauds them.