Page 1545 - Week 05 - Thursday, 18 April 1991

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Mr Berry: Was Bob Winnel right or wrong?

MR KAINE: Bob Winnel is right when he says that the section 19 project should be going ahead; I agree with him wholeheartedly.

Schools Amalgamation

MS MAHER: My question is to the Minister for Health, Education and the Arts. Can the Minister inform the Assembly as to how the amalgamation of Melba Primary School and Spence Primary School is progressing?

MR HUMPHRIES: That is a very interesting question from Ms Maher, who, I think, has had some interest in that particular proposal to administratively amalgamate those two schools. So I am happy to answer that question. The Mount Rogers Community School - as it is now known - has been established with representatives from both campuses on its school board. The new school community has been very hard at work to produce an important and viable school community for students. They have issued a mission statement which reads:

Through the co-operative involvement of the staff, parents and community to endeavour to ensure that the students of the Mount Rogers Community School will:

achieve their potential;

develop a lasting concern for others and a respect for their rights;

meet the challenges of our rapidly changing society and world; and

make a positive contribution to their environment.

I have to say "Hear, hear!" to those very laudable sentiments and very positive goals for that school. The school will be participating in the school performance, review and development program, or SPRAD program. There are 520 students enrolled at that school - 254 at the Melba campus and 266 at the Spence campus. After-school care is being provided for children at the Melba campus.

Mr Speaker, I have been out to the school. I have spoken to the teachers and the board members out there. I am extremely impressed by the dedication they have shown to their task. I have to say that I think it is a very good example of a school community taking the problems that face them, dealing with them directly and bravely, and succeeding in having created a very good school as a product of that work.


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