Special trivia night

SINCE THE mid-2000s, under the guidance of MC extraordinaire Marc Vining, Murwillumbah Running Club The Volleys have run a fabulous trivia night with all funds raised being dedicated to Tweed Palliative Support.

Since Marc and his wife moved to Tenterfield, the Rotary Club of Mt Warning AM have taken the reins and are pleased to keep the tradition going.

In the last two years alone, the club, with the generous support of sponsors, donations and other Rotary Clubs, has raised nearly $50,000, with all proceeds going to Wedgetail Retreat.

The maintenance of this award-winning hospice includes the upgrade of vital machines in order to continue caring for over 600 palliative care patients in the final days of their life each year.

The 2023 Trivia Night is once again set to be held on June 3 at the Murwillumbah Golf Club, and tables are already full.

However, the Rotary Club of Mt Warning AM are still looking for more table sponsors ($350) and also gladly welcome donations of prizes for the auction and raffle. If you can assist, the club would love to hear from you.

For more information please contact Mark Moore on: (02) 6672 1501 or email: mark@ moorebbs.com.au

By Jonathon Howard

DEPUTY PREMIER and Minister for Education Prue Car has announced the Minns Labor Government is committed to the demerger of the Murwillumbah Education Campus, in consultation with the community.

The decision follows one of the most controversial feuds around the Tweed Valley’s schooling system in recent history, and for many parents and students it comes as a great relief.

Minister Car had a meeting with Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin, along with the NSW Department of Education, about the needs of each of the four school sites.

The state government is now circling back to what was not undertaken by the previous government and what many feel is important: consultation with the community.

“The Department, in collaboration with myself and the Member for Lismore, is finalising plans for consultation with the community,” Ms Car said.

“I want to be clear that the government is committed to the demerger of the high school and the retention of the two high schools and the two primary schools as separate schools.

“We are now working to deliver that commitment in a timely and inclusive manner.

“The department has stopped infrastructure-related activities on the Murwillumbah Education Campus project and will work with the community on supporting the four schools into the future.

“The Member for Lismore and I will engage in a community consultation process to ensure the disruption to students and staff is minimised during this period.”

Unlike the previous Coalition government Education Minister, Ms Car said she looks forward to “visiting soon to meet with the community and the local member”.

While many parents and students are breathing a sigh of relief that Murwillumbah will retain all four public schools, one local family has expressed their disappointment.

The Bennett family sent an email to the school and included The Weekly in the correspondence highlighting the many questions which they say remain unanswered.

“This is disappointing news for forward-thinking people who are not afraid of change and want to see new and exciting infrastructure and facilities for their children,” the letter signed off by the Bennett family reads.

“To say it’s a major step backwards is an understatement, and the whole project is left in limbo with obviously thousands of dollars of taxpayer’s money to be wasted.”

The family’s statement said the decision to reverse the merger is “politically motivated”.

“From the time the Australian Labor Party were elected, it was glaringly obvious what would happen with the Murwillumbah Education Campus project,” the letter reads.

“My family were looking forward to enjoying the redeveloped campus at the former Murwillumbah High School and for future generations, as were a number of friends including teachers.

“I am guessing with appeals, the need for refurbishment and myriad logistical issues, the whole project in whatever form it ends will be significantly delayed and any benefit that might have been disappears into the distance.

“I am sure you are as frustrated with the latest developments as we are and, in this instance, we feel the need to constructively lodge our dissatisfaction with the decision made by the NSW Government.”

Not all local families are disappointed with the demerger decision, including local mother Jade Juleff and P&C president at Murwillumbah East Public School Kylie Rose, who were both celebrating the demerger announcement.

“I am so pleased to see this confirmation that our beautiful public schools will be staying open,” Ms Rose said.

“The statement by the Minister for Education has been a relief to many people.”

Ms Rose said the community fought hard to save the schools.

“We spent two-and-a-half years fighting this,” she said.

“From the outset the majority of our community was opposed to the closure of our schools.

“Of course, there were some people who were in favour of a mega school.

“They also had an opportunity to champion their position. They clearly failed to prosecute their case. It is a bit late now.

“Labor went to the last election promising to keep these schools open if elected.

“So our community knew and voted for that position.

“We didn’t get a say in the previous government’s decision to close these schools but my goodness didn’t we have our say at the ballot box!”

Ms Rose said it is now about finding the best way forward for students, parents and teachers for the demerger.

“I think it is fantastic that the new government will consult the community on the demerger of the two high schools. It is the right thing to do.

“So many people have expressed their disappointment that it had to come down to an election for us to finally be heard.

“All of the grief and angst and uncertainty of the past few years could have easily been avoided if the previous government had bothered to consult our community on what we wanted.

“All of the money and time that they wasted insisting on pushing through with this mega school that we never asked for.

“I hope our community is so proud of what we have achieved together.

“I am so glad this is finally over and I look forward to these four amazing public schools remaining open for future generations.”

“The staff have become like family to my Mum and this means the world to us. We love them too.” dad safe, protected and happy.”

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