General News
3 December, 2020
Schools receive $10 million funding
TERANG educators are abuzz with delight following the announcement of $10.69 million in State Government funding from the 20/21 Victorian budget.
TERANG educators are abuzz with delight following the announcement of $10.69 million in State Government funding from the 20/21 Victorian budget.
The funding provides resources for both Hampden Specialist School and Terang College P-4 to relocate from the current Princes Highway campus to the Terang College 5-12 campus on Strong Street.
The new funding compliments $1.187 million of funding announced in October by Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney, which allowed for concept plans for the relocation to be drafted.
Terang College P-4 assistant principal Julie-Ann Kelly and Hampden Specialist School principal Kylie Carter said they were delighted to learn of the funding allocation.
Ms Carter said she was “in shock” when she received the unexpected news.
“I was in disbelief, but we were all so excited for our students and families,” she said.
“(Corangamite Shire councillor) Jo Beard called me and she was nearly in tears. She has been right behind this from the start.
“It has happened quickly now but the whole process has been a long time of pushing for new facilities.”
Ms Kelly said she was overcome with emotion to hear the funding had been allocated.
“I couldn’t believe it,” she said.
“I’m ecstatic because it is no longer a pipe dream. It is going to happen.”
The process to plan and finalise the move is one which both Hampden Specialist School and Terang College will approach collaboratively.
Ms Kelly said the schools have a strong connection, with staff having a history of working together to ensure the best outcomes for their students.
“It will be two schools coming together as one,” she said.
“Our schools work well together and we want to maintain that at the Strong Street campus.”
Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney said it had been great to see the excitement the additional funding had generated among the community.
“Both schools will enjoy brand new facilities that their communities have worked so hard for,” she said.
“The new schools on the Strong Street site will deliver 21st century standard education for the students, and will be a fantastic example of inclusive education.”
Corangamite Shire mayor Ruth Gstrein said the achievement of the two schools has been “incredible.”
“It was only six weeks ago or so they were given the master planning and were preparing for another couple of years of planning and lobbying,” she said.
“We thought it would have been more of a long game, so the funding was a bolt from the blue and an absolute surprise.
“I’m just so delighted because upgrading those facilities, particularly for Hampden Specialist School, was so desperately needed.
“All kids deserve to have the best possible surroundings to learn in and I think bringing together the special school, the junior campus and the senior campus is going to be beneficial for all the kids.”
Corangamite Shire councillor Jo Beard said the announcement was an “amazing surprise.”
“This has been long awaited. It was a surprise which was so abrupt,” she said.
“It was one of those projects, for me, which really means a lot because I feel our kids deserve better than the environment they have been learning in.
“This is one of the projects which has meant the most to me and really touched me, which is why I was so committed to getting a greater outcome for these kids because they deserve it.”
Ms Carter and Ms Kelly said the outcome had been in the works for over a decade, with thanks to Pam Coolahan, Chris Kelly, Adam Box, Greg Button, Kerrin McKenzie, Jo Beard, Ruth Gstrein and Gayle Tierney among the many who had advocated for the relocation.