They just want to go home

BY SAMANTHA ELLEY

“You can not build a community without certain things and they are a church and a school and they are gone.”

These were the passionate words of mother Shandell Parkinson, whose children attend St Joseph’s Primary School, once located in Woodburn, but temporarily established in Evans Head since the February 2022 food.

The words were said

Woodburn community members, crowded into the Evans Head church to hear what Mr Spencer had to say about the decision to not rebuild St Joeys at its Woodburn location.

Mr Spencer acknowledged the pain and hurt the community was feeling and what they had been through, but his words rang out with an air of fnality.

“(St Josephs) is not going to be rebuilt in the existing place,” he said.

“I wish it was different, but the decision has been decision by the Catholic Block Grant Authority to not provide capital the process of coping with the food and the changed premises. battle to save St Joeys with signs and cartoon drawings of young school children posted across the area.

“The school is unique where you go there and know everyone.

“We are all doing our best in the changing landscape of our town,” said Ms Popp.

“What it feels like (from the Catholic Schools Offce Lismore) is that Woodburn is being abandoned.

“We have a connection to this church and the school can’t be underestimated.” at a community meeting held in the temporary premises of the school to the Catholic Schools Lismore CEO, Adam Spencer.

Over 200 parents and staff of St Joeys, Woodburn, along with made.

“We are committed to rebuilding in the parish, but it must be in a food free area.”

Mr Spencer said the decision was made due to the inability to obtain food insurance and the funding in food affected zones.

Michelle Popp’s 10 year old son Jake attends St Joeys and she was also at the meeting last week.

“It’s a bitter pill to swallow,” she said.

“After the food last year, the frst people to help us were the teachers.”

Ms Popps said the teachers had also provided counselling for the children as they navigated through

“I feel like it is very important to get back to Woodburn,” she said.

“This is about working hard to rebuild our town.”

Residents of Woodburn and Evans Head have been reminded of the

It was deliberated by a Catholic School Review Commission report that three of the 10 food impacted schools across the parish would not be rebuilt on the same food affected sites. These included: St Josephs, Woodburn; Our lady Help of Christians, South Lismore, and Trinity Catholic College in Lismore.

Beekeeping Supplies