We've come to expect a lot of entertaining banter and news from the Sunrise team, but this week, viewers were treated to something a bit more special and heartfelt than usual.

Co-host Natalie Barr told the show of her plans to take off early after sharing a piece of family news that made her 'quite emotional'.

The co-host unexpectedly announced at the time that she had to go to a very special event—her son Hunter’s final school assembly.

Sunrise host Natalie Barr left the show early for her son’s final school assembly. Credit: @natalie_barr7/Instagram

'Today is a big day for me. It’s our last son’s last school assembly, so I’m about to take off,' she said in her announcement.

Natalie has two children, her oldest boy, Lachlan and her younger son Hunter, with her husband, Andrew Thompson.

'Just got one more interview after this,' she shared, to which Monique Wright responded, 'That’s so exciting.'

But it's not just the kids who feel the impact of this milestone, parents can also experience a range of emotions—from excitement to fear—when their children get ready to take these new steps.

'It’s kind of big. You have to be there for that milestone,' Nat said. 'It’s quite emotional. I’m sure lots of viewers have gone through it.'

Co-host Matt Shirvington even asked how Hunter was feeling about his upcoming last day of school.

‘He’s feeling good, but it’s scary. [Higher School Certificate] is coming up in [New South Wales]—11 October all that starts, but on the last day of school, we all remember that, don’t we?’ Nat replied.

Monique agreed with Natalie that graduation is 'possibly a bigger day for mums and dads'.

'Especially your last one going through,' Nat stated, with Shirvo adding, 'Your baby!'

It certainly sounds like Natalie Barr and her husband, Andrew, will have plenty to celebrate in the near future.

We understand why Natalie would take this opportunity to set aside all her other commitments and make sure she was present at her son’s last school assembly—it only happens once in a lifetime.

Monique filled in for Natalie for the remainder of Wednesday’s show.

You can watch her announcement here:

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Key Takeaways

• Natalie Barr, co-host of Sunrise, made an unexpected departure from the show due to a family event.
  
• She announced that it was her youngest son, Hunter's, final school assembly, a milestone she wanted to attend.
  
• Natalie described the day as 'big' and 'emotional', underscoring the significance of such events for parents.
  
• Monique Wright filled in for Barr for the remainder of Wednesday’s show.
  

How about you, members? Were you emotional in your children’s final school assembly as well? Share your experience in the comments below!

 

[Trudi]

Good on him! Congratulations!

I am very proud of him, although I have to admit that I did have sleepless nights when he was in his teens. But a couple of years later, he did a bridging course at university and started his degree course. He got his first (graduate?) job while he was still in his second year of his degree course.

 

[Gsr]

Last school assembly is such a special occasion and one that I’m sure all parents strive to attend for all their kids. When it is the last ever school assembly for your youngest child it sure brings out the emotions.

 

[Trudi]

Last school assembly is such a special occasion and one that I’m sure all parents strive to attend for all their kids. When it is the last ever school assembly for your youngest child it sure brings out the emotions.

Is the last school assembly in lieu of the graduation ceremony?

I never attended any school assemblies, something I consider totally irrelevant - I had enough of the crap from countless talk-fests at work.

I did, however, attend the graduation ceremonies, all of which took place at around 6pm.

Last year one of my granddaughters had her graduation at a Sydney boarding school and my daughter sent me the details of how to access the life ceremony on my tv which started at around 8 pm.

It was long, it was boring, but the highlight for me was when my granddaugher was declared dux in Japanese.

 

[Leenie]

Is the last school assembly in lieu of the graduation ceremony?

I never attended any school assemblies, something I consider totally irrelevant - I had enough of the crap from countless talk-fests at work.

I did, however, attend the graduation ceremonies, all of which took place at around 6pm.

Last year one of my granddaughters had her graduation at a Sydney boarding school and my daughter sent me the details of how to access the life ceremony on my tv which started at around 8 pm.

It was long, it was boring, but the highlight for me was when my granddaugher was declared dux in Japanese.

Graduations are boring .

 

[Veggiepatch]

Graduations are boring .

I've only been to two. My own.

 

[Ricki]

alas, it is an open forum, so take the good with the bad. remember it is ones views not yours.

True , true

 

[Leenie]

I've only been to two. My own.

Me too my daughters

 

[rutherkip]

Graduations are boring .

To make it remember and interesting my college members decided to give out custom graduation stoles. Wearing stoles for graduation is a way for students to show off their fields of studies, honor society memberships, and affiliations such as fraternities or sororities. They can also acknowledge military service, valedictorians, and salutatorians.