General News
5 September, 2023
"Ecstatic" event marks a bright future
Warracknabeal Education Precinct staff and students are “ecstatic” about Friday's official opening ceremony, which will feature a special guest - Member for Western Victoria, Jacinta Ermacora. The culmination of decades of lobbying will be...
Warracknabeal Education Precinct staff and students are “ecstatic” about Friday's official opening ceremony, which will feature a special guest - Member for Western Victoria, Jacinta Ermacora.
The culmination of decades of lobbying will be celebrated at the event, with Warracknabeal Special Development School, Warracknabeal Primary School and Warracknabeal Secondary College extending an invitation to all past and current students, friends, families and community members.
The principals and student leaders for all three schools will welcome Ms Ermacora, along with other guests and attendees, at the bus drop-off zone in Werrigar Street at 9.55am, before walking 120 metres to the auditorium/gymnasium.
The official opening ceremony will commence at 10am with an Acknowledgement of Country from the Warracknabeal Secondary College school captains Sophie Evans and Angus Byron, followed by a history of the project from former-principal Leo Casey.
The Warracknabeal Education Precinct Masterplan Report was commissioned in 2016 by the Department of Education and Training, but the community has been advocating for the amalgamation of the three schools for almost 20 years.
Stage 1 of the project was completed at the end of 2018, with the partial construction of the Administration, Special Developmental School and Secondary School buildings, but a lack of funding stalled progress prompting frustrated parents and community members to launch the Finish What You Started campaign to raise awareness about the inaction and lack of government support in the half-completed project.
In 2020 the state government announced they would be allocating $19.8 million of the $24.5 billion Covid emergency fund to support the upgrade.
The 2023 school year began with Warracknabeal Primary and Special Development School students in the new buildings, but Warracknabeal Secondary College had to wait until the Easter school holidays for their big move.
Warracknabeal Special Developmental School principal Peter Clayton will introduce Ms Ermacora and ask her to speak before cutting the ribbon and officially opening the Precinct.
Ms Ermacora and a group of specially-invited official guests will take a short tour of the Precinct, led by student representatives, before departing.
A spokesperson for the three schools said this occasion will mark the beginning of a bright future for the students of Warracknabeal and district.
“We are all ecstatic that this day has finally arrived and look forward to all three schools working together to provide a high standard of education for Warracknabeal,” they said.