Wednesday, 27 May 2026

Federation Chamber

Mr Tim Wilson: We're all trying to summit a different horizon in our lives. Many young Australians are looking to the future with confidence, as they should be, but few would say the pathway to success is scaling Everest. Bianca Adler from St Leonards College, though, is one. Since she was little it has been her dream to summit the tallest mountain in the world—the 8,849 metres of ice and altitude between her and the top of the world. She tried to summit once before and got within 400 metres before, sadly, being turned around. She spent months acclimatising and rotating through camps in Nepal. She didn't face it alone. Her family, her school community and her coaches and mentors gave her the tools, the belief and the preparation to do something truly extraordinary.

On 20 May, Bianca Adler stood on the top of the world, becoming the youngest Australian ever to summit Mount Everest, something that should make her incredibly proud. On behalf of the entire Parliament of Australia, congratulations, Bianca, on your record feat. Our community is cheering you on for what you have done but also for what is yet to come. Keep going!