School of the Air rises from the ashes
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Electorate Office: Unit 1, Druids Hall, Corner Durlacher and Sanford Streets, Geraldton, WA 6530. PO Box 231, Geraldton, WA 6531
Ph: +61 (08) 9923 9211; Fax: +61 (08) 9923 9222; Email: brian.ellis@mp.wa.gov.au
Ph: +61 (08) 9923 9211; Fax: +61 (08) 9923 9222; Email: brian.ellis@mp.wa.gov.au
One of the world’s ‘biggest schools’ has risen from the ashes to serve students from the Wheatbelt and Mid West.
Operating over a distance of 540,000 square kilometres, the Meekatharra School of the Air will provide state-of-the art education to students in a huge area ranging from Wiluna to Wubin, and from Newman to Mullewa.
The school originally operated from Meekatharra, until it was severely damaged in a fire.
After it was damaged a second time in a subsequent fire, the school was relocated to Geraldton where the P&C agreed that staff retention would be easier.
Staff operated from the Beachlands primary school while a permanent site was located and a new school was built.
Agricultural Region MLC Brian Ellis, who liaised with Education Minister Liz Constable on behalf of P&C and lobbied vigorously for funding for the new premises, attended the opening.
He said that the parents had been keen to see the original historic name retained.
Mr Ellis chairs the Rural and Remote Education Advisory Committee, and said the location of the new premises adjacent to the Camp School would allow many students who usually only communicate in a virtual world to have some real world contact.
The new building currently serves 42 students, and includes information technology and communications rooms, a library, staff and conference rooms, a multipurpose classroom, studios and work and administrative areas.
Dr Constable, who opened the new school premises, thanked the Isolated Children’s and Parents’ Association of WA for their involvement and support throughout the building process and acknowledged Beachlands Primary School for housing the interim facility while construction took place.
For more photos of the opening of the Meekatharra School of the Air, visit the 2011 Photo Gallery on this website.
Operating over a distance of 540,000 square kilometres, the Meekatharra School of the Air will provide state-of-the art education to students in a huge area ranging from Wiluna to Wubin, and from Newman to Mullewa.
The school originally operated from Meekatharra, until it was severely damaged in a fire.
After it was damaged a second time in a subsequent fire, the school was relocated to Geraldton where the P&C agreed that staff retention would be easier.
Staff operated from the Beachlands primary school while a permanent site was located and a new school was built.
Agricultural Region MLC Brian Ellis, who liaised with Education Minister Liz Constable on behalf of P&C and lobbied vigorously for funding for the new premises, attended the opening.
He said that the parents had been keen to see the original historic name retained.
Mr Ellis chairs the Rural and Remote Education Advisory Committee, and said the location of the new premises adjacent to the Camp School would allow many students who usually only communicate in a virtual world to have some real world contact.
The new building currently serves 42 students, and includes information technology and communications rooms, a library, staff and conference rooms, a multipurpose classroom, studios and work and administrative areas.
Dr Constable, who opened the new school premises, thanked the Isolated Children’s and Parents’ Association of WA for their involvement and support throughout the building process and acknowledged Beachlands Primary School for housing the interim facility while construction took place.
For more photos of the opening of the Meekatharra School of the Air, visit the 2011 Photo Gallery on this website.
Brian with members of the Rural & Remote Education Advisory Committee at the opening of the new Meekatharra School of the Air in Geraldton.
Brian watches as the kids help Education Minister Liz Constable to cut the ribbon.
Copyright Brian Ellis MLC © 2009 - 2011