A KEY state election commitment of the Mitchell Shire Council has heated up this week, with discussion over a public secondary school heating up thanks to a community meeting last Tuesday night.
The community meeting was held by Public High School for Kilmore’s Corey Walker, with support from the Mitchell Shire Council. Also in attendance at the John Taylor Room at Kilmore Library was Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland, Shadow Minister for Education Brad Rowswell, One Nation Member for Northern Victoria Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell and candidate for Euroa Steve Campbell.
Opening the night was Mr Walker, before Mitchell Shire Council Mayor Councillor John Dougall stated his position.
“Your commitment to this campaign shows just how important a public high school is to Kilmore,” he said.
“State elections are a great opportunity for local voices to be heard. Mitchell Shire is one of the local voices, and our voice and our advocacy best reflects our understanding of the big community priorities.
“We are here to hear from MPs about their plans for Kilmore. We welcome commitments from any party, we’re happy to work with any party that is aligned with us on a need for an outcome on any of our big priorities.”
It was here that Ms Cleeland delivered the announcement that the Coalition – if elected – would commit to a secondary school for Kilmore.
“I make this promise to you: when the Liberals and Nationals are elected to government this November, we will deliver a public secondary school for Kilmore,” she said.
“Not a feasibility study that goes nowhere. Not another zoning trick. A real plan — a site, a build, a timeline this community can actually hold us to.
“Kilmore is growing, our families are growing, and our children deserve a public secondary school close to home.
“That is not good enough, and it is not a fair deal for regional families.”
Ms Cleeland detailed the announcement would plan for the future.
“Kilmore is growing quickly and we need to make sure our infrastructure keeps pace with that growth,” she said.
“Our kids should be able to go to school in their own community.”
Mr Rowswell added his thoughts.
“Every child deserves access to a great local public education, regardless of where they live,” he said.
“For too long, regional communities have been asked to wait while population growth puts more pressure on existing schools.”
Ms Tyrrell confirmed One Nation would advocate for a high school regardless of whoever earns power in November.
“One Nation Victoria will advocate for a public high school for Kilmore, and we will do it for whoever holds government,” she said.
“We’ll make sure that we advocate for the school and we get the ball rolling.”
It was backed up by Mr Campbell.
“It’s an obvious thing that is needed. We will definitely advocate for it, and we hopefully get an outcome,” he said.
However, State Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes heavily criticised the announcement, saying it was ‘cruel’.
“The National, Liberal, One Nation local members have promised a plan to look into a public high school for Kilmore, no timelines, no costings and no answers for Broadford Secondary College. Having a bet each way is not leadership; it’s just a cruel political stunt,” he said.
“I’ve been very honest with the community that I have lived and worked in for more than a decade. Yes, I support a public high school located in Kilmore when the numbers support it, that’s why I’m pleased land has been identified. Current and projected enrolment numbers are not sufficient to support a thriving school in both Kilmore and Broadford. This is central to the current decision: larger student cohorts, especially in Years 10–12, enable broader senior curriculum offerings and pathways, including VCE, VET, and VM.
“In the meantime, delivering the upgrades to Broadford Secondary College which educates a total of more than 800 students, with close to half of these students residing outside of town (mostly Kilmore), is the best way to ensure all students in Mitchell Shire have access to the best facilities, teachers, school support and class options. Moving too quickly will decimate a fantastic high school that has worked so hard to be a school of choice in our region.”
