Anne Simmons
Churchill Primary students and staff were thrilled to hear from Education Minister James Merlino yesterday that their school would undergo a $2.6 million upgrade if the Andrews government is re-elected in November.
Mr Merlino announced the plan to applause in a special assembly of the school’s 162 students and reminded his audience it was 100 days until the state election.
“I think the teaching and learning happening here at Churchill Primary is second to none but what we want to do at the education state is match that teaching and learning with the very best facilities,” Mr Merlino said.
“So knocking down some tired and old buildings in Block A and replacing them with brand new classrooms and admin area … will be a wonderful injection for this terrific school.”
The state government has already spent $300,000 on a new outdoor synthetic surface for the school.
In the deputy premier’s address to the students and staff he apologised for cancelling at the last minute his original visit scheduled for two weeks earlier – which coincided with police raids in Melbourne for Labor’s so-called ‘red shirts’ scheme.
Mr Merlino was one of several ministers to cancel media appearances that day.
“It’s just the nature of the job that sometimes my diary gets tossed in the garbage,” he said.
“I was hoping to be here two weeks ago but the very next opportunity to travel to the Latrobe Valley and meet with the school I took that up.”
Churchill Primary School is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and some of its infrastructure will celebrate the same milestone.
Acting principal Jacquie Burrows said the upgrade would allow the school to “move with the times” to deliver “21st century learning”.
Labor’s candidate for Morwell Mark Richards attended the announcement which held personal significance for him, considering he attended the very school as a child.
Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing said many schools throughout Gippsland that had not received the attention they needed.
“It is an area where despite the best efforts of some incredible students and teachers and staff, the facilities are really out-dated … so we’re working our way systemically through this list of challenges,” Ms Shing said.
