By KATRINA BRANDON
A BIT of history up in flames, after the old Morwell Tech School building caught fire last Friday (May 8).
Firefighters were called to a large fire on Maryvale Road, Morwell around 11.15pm, where they were greeted with a “large orange glow”.
A Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) spokesperson told the Express that crews responded quickly to the callout, only to find the building engulfed in flames, prompting the use of aerial appliances and breathing apparatus.
“Firefighters arrived on scene within five minutes to find a building approximately 50m by 40m well alight,” FRV said.
“FRV crews wearing breathing apparatus were on scene for several hours battling the blaze. Two aerial appliances were also used to attack the fire from above.
“The scene was deemed under control at 1.21am on Saturday, May 9 and handed to Victoria Police.”
Taking over from FRV, detectives from the Latrobe Crime Investigation Unit stepped in, marking the fire as suspicious.
“The exact circumstances surrounding what caused the fire are yet to be established; however, the blaze is being treated as suspicious,” the Latrobe Crime Investigation Unit told the Express.
According to the Morwell Historical Society, the Morwell Technical School began in February 1959 with 96 Form 1 pupils accommodated in temporary premises
on the site of the Yallourn Technical School.
The pupils were conveyed daily to and from Yallourn by school bus. It was not until the next school year that the first section of buildings on the site, along Maryvale Road, were ready for occupation.
On January 1, 1986, the Morwell Technical School was closed and amalgamated into Kurnai Secondary College.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit an online confidential report at: www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
Mirboo arrest
DETECTIVES from Latrobe Crime Investigation Unit arrested a 40-year-old male on May 1 in relation to a series of offending at a rural property in Mirboo.
Offences included multiple burglaries and theft of motor vehicles in the Latrobe, Baw Baw, South Gippsland, Cardina areas and eastern suburbs of Melbourne.
Two stolen vehicles were recovered from the property, as well as property belonging to victims of the burglaries.
The 40-year-old male was charged with 35 charges including burglary, theft, theft of motor vehicle, driving while disqualified, handling stolen goods, possessions of a drug of dependence, committing an indictable offence while on bail and failure to answer bail.
The male appeared at the Latrobe Valley Magistrates Court where he was further remanded to a later date.
