By Colin MacGillivray
WANDONG Primary School teachers were overwhelmed after Labor candidate for Yan Yean Lauren Kathage last week pledged $10.1 million to overhaul the school’s ageing infrastructure.
The funding, which is contingent on Labor retaining government at next month’s state election, would enable the school to complete a master plan to improve its grounds, replace portable classrooms with permanent buildings and refurbish existing buildings.
Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes joined Ms Kathage to announce the school would also receive $200,000 from the State Government’s Inclusive Schools Fund to build an inclusive play area, regardless of the election outcome.
Principal Kelly Morrow was in tears after the announcement after advocating for improvements at the school since taking over in late 2019.
“I was looking at how we could possibly get all the work and projects done to the level they needed to be done. With a basic maintenance money fund it was impossible, so my advocacy started early,” she said.
“Knowing that [$10.1 million] figure, you reimagine the world. Often when figures for rebuilding come in, you have to take away from one area to give [money] to another area or cull and cut in places, but this has given us an unimaginable prospect on the horizon.
“The tears when it was announced were of relief that all the hard work of advocating for our school has come to fruition.”
Ms Morrow said the funding would allow the school to keep pace with rapid growth.
“We’re at 460 [students] this year and we are growing again to around 480 students next year,” she said.
“We’ve had enrolments for next year beyond our capacity and unfortunately we’ve had to say no to some families who live outside our area.”
Student leaders were excited after the announcement, voicing ideas for projects on which to spend the money including new buildings, upgrading sports areas and equipment, and even a reptile enclosure.
Ms Kathage said she had worked with Ms Morrow and the school for months to secure a funding commitment from the government.
“I wanted to add my voice to her voice and the rest of the school,” Ms Kathage said.
“This is a school of excellence and its facilities should match the standard of its teachers and students.
“I have four sisters who are teachers, so I’ve got some insight into what teachers need to provide the best education for our students.”
Ms Symes said the Inclusive Schools Fund grant would benefit children of all abilities.
“A $200,000 inclusive playground was something [the school] identified that would allow some of their students to have better opportunities for leisure activities,” she said.
“It’s about being accessible to kids with sensory issues, and, if you look at the topography of the school, it’s got quite a gradient in places, so it’s also about making sure kids with mobility issues aren’t locked out from accessing the playground.
“It’s about identifying the needs of the students and responding appropriately.”
Ms Symes said the $10.1 million election pledge would enable a whole-school upgrade without the need for piecemeal funding.
“Since I was elected in 2014 … we [allocated money to buy] the neighbour’s land so the school had room to expand, we’ve had to install portable classrooms as the school has grown, we’ve had money for drainage issues and we’ve had money to upgrade the library, so to finally have a commitment for such a significant amount means that we won’t have to keep coming back with small-scale projects,” she said.
Ms Morrow said the funding would give a big boost to the Wandong-Heathcote Junction community.
“I live locally, just 10 minutes from the school, and to think that I’m able to give back to my own local community is so rewarding and so exciting,” she said.
“The possibilities of what this funding can achieve for this school are amazing, and we are so grateful.
“We are a school of choice and we’ll continue to be into the future, because our academic rigour will match our school environment.”
