Parramatta Labor MP Andrew Charlton’s Knox Grammar school days

He is poised to make his maiden speech in parliament but it’s something that should come naturally for Parramatta’s newly-elected MP who was no stranger to addressing audiences from his school days.

Parramatta’s newly-elected federal MP Andrew Charlton has had plenty of years to finesse his leadership and speech-writing skills, with a copy of the former Knox Grammar captain’s farewell speech showing it’s a trait he has honed for decades.

Mr Charlton was the leader of the prestigious all-boys Wahroonga school in 1996 when he graduated Year 12 and addressed his peers at a school assembly.

“As we leave the school we will take with us a huge range of experiences, memories, ideas and relationships which add up to an education,’’ he wrote in the valete speech published in the year book.

“Over the next month the academic aspect of that education will be tested and scored against those of other schools. As we school leavers face up to the daunting task ahead of obtaining sufficient qualifications and finding a job we will draw increasingly on our education.’’

Landing a job is something at which Mr Charlton, who was also named the Australian Lions Youth of the Year in 1996, excelled.

Andrew Charlton in 1996 with teacher Isabel Deeble. He was the Knox Grammar School captain in 1996. Picture: Knox Grammarian

He was former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s economics adviser and the managing director of Accenture, and is now the MP of the Parramatta electorate after he defeated Liberal hopeful Maria Kovacic on Saturday.

Despite facing a wave of backlash for being parachuted into the seat from Bellevue Hill, he prevailed with a convincing 54.11 to 45.89 per cent win.

Cue the victory speech.

Andrew Charlton delivers his victory speech to the Labor faithful on Saturday. Picture: Damian Shaw

“When I stood in front of you after I was first preselected, I said to be your candidate for Parramatta was the honour of my life and, tonight, that honour turns into a responsibility,’’ he said before a raucous crowd at The Collector Hotel in Parramatta on election night.

“I take that responsibility incredibly seriously and I want you to know that I will work as hard as I can to deliver for the people of Parramatta.’’

Mr Charlton is not the first Parramatta MP to graduate from Knox. Ex-Liberal MP Ross Cameron, 57, who represented Parramatta from 1996 to 2004, attended the north shore school.