May/June 2001 News

ANOTHER EXCELLENT LETTER IN THE MELBOURNE TIMES
Another letter in this week’s issue (June 27) Melbourne Times supporting the re-opening of Fitzroy High.
Get a copy of The Melbourne Times or read them here.
Keep those letters flowing!  Send (another) letter to Mary Delahunty, Steve Bracks and Richard Wynn. Remember, everyone is watching, Fitzroy High won't open if the community doesn't show its support.

THE ORGANIZATION
The interim management committee of Community for Fitzroy High School is holding it's first meeting after the school holidays, Thursday 19th July, 7:30 pm at North Carlton Primary School (Lee Street, Carlton).  If you are a parent at Gold Street Primary or Alphington Primary please contact us on comment@fitzroyhigh.org.au.

THE ORGANIZATION
Two motions were put to the meeting to create an organization to represent parent’s interest in the re-opening of Fitzroy High.  The first was to create the organization:

That an organization with the working title of “Community for Fitzroy High School” be created to act as consultative body for implementation of school re-opening.  Specifically to:
 - promote the establishment of a High School on the former Fitzroy Secondary College site.
 - represent the views and interests of parents of potential students of Fitzroy High School.

The second was to create an interim management committee:

That a management committee be created to establish the organization with a view to incorporation.  The committee consist of ten members, with a minimum of one member representing each of the local primary schools.

Both motions were carried unanimously, and nominations for the interim management committee were made.
The first task of interim management committee will be to define the aims and rules of the organization.

To find out more about Incorporated Associations go to have a look through the Consumer and Business Affairs Victoria booklet, you can download it from Government related reports.

GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCEMENT IN AUGUST
Currently the education department (DEET) are putting together information to report back to the minister.
At the meeting Richard Wynn announced he had met with the Director of Policy & Planning in the education department (DEET).  He is responsible for reporting back to the minister on implementation of the Review Panel’s report, and told Richard his report would be completed in the first week of August.  Hopefully an official announcement will be made soon after.

BUT THAT WON’T BE THE END OF IT
Because DEET are putting together reports without ANY input from the community, parents, other bodies interested in being involved with the new school (Universities, Adult Education etc), there is no guarantee their report will support the opening of a fully functioning High School on the site.  There is also no guarantee that after the government announcement there will be an opportunity for these groups to participate in the establishment of the school.  Richard Wynn undertook at the meeting to do what he can to ensure the community has a continuing role in the establishment of Fitzroy High, however he can only do so much.  It is important the community continues to let it’s wishes be known.

YOUR LETTERS IN THE MELBOURNE TIMES
Four excellent letters in this week’s issue (June 20) Melbourne Times.
Get a copy of The Melbourne Times or read them here.
Keep those letters flowing!  Send (another) letter to Mary Delahunty, Steve Bracks and Richard Wynn. Remember, everyone is watching, Fitzroy High won't open if the community doesn't show its support.

MAJOR ARTICLE IN THE MELBOURNE TIMES
This week's TMT (June 6 issue) has a front cover article on Fitzroy High School.
Mary Delahunty was interviewed and her comments are interesting:
 "Education Minister Mary Delahunty is vague about the exact nature of the school to be located on the site.  She refuses to speculate on when the school will open or whether student numbers will be capped. I’m not looking at any dates, there is a lot of work to be done,” she says."

Get a copy of the Melbourne Times, or read the article here in the Media:Reports  section.

Also an article from the Australian about perceptions of public education, read the article here in the Media:Related section.

PUBLIC MEETING
A public meeting is being planned for Monday 18th of June at Spensley street Primary School.  Richard Wynn, local MP, has agreed to come and tell us what the government is doing.  The main purpose of the meeting is to form a more permanent organization to act as a conduit for the concerns of the community.  A structure is being mooted that will have permanent positions for a representative from each of the surrounding primary schools.  If you would like to be a part of this organization representing your primary school committee please send an email to  comment@fitzroyhigh.org.au. to register your interest.

THE MELBOURNE TIMES CONFIRMS BRACK'S ANNOUNCEMENT
This week's TMT (May 30 issue) has an article confirming the premier, Steve Bracks, announced Fitzroy High School would be re-opened.
Also a letter of apology responding to the letters written in support of local principals in TMT May 16 issue.

All are in the Media section, read the article here, read the letter here.

A PERMANENT ORGANIZATION
A public meeting is being planned for Monday 18th of June at Spensley street Primary School to form a more permanent organization to act as a conduit for the concerns of the community.  A structure is being mooted that will have permanent positions for a representative from each of the surrounding primary schools.  If you would like to be a part of this organization representing your primary school committee please send an email to  comment@fitzroyhigh.org.au. to register your interest.

This DOESN'T mean the other local high principals will stop their campaign to prevent it happening.  It is important we keep the pressure up to ensure they will be unsuccessful.  WRITE your letter to the Melbourne Times (see below).

READ the issues below, WRITE a letter today.  Don't let them kill our dream.

Some of the issues:

• The principals are obviously making a cynical grab for money that might be allocated to Fitzroy High.
• Thornbury/Darebin, Brunswick Secondary College & Moreland City are NOT local schools to students in Clifton Hill, Fitzroy, North Fitzroy, Westgarth.
• Radio & Motor mechanic courses might be great for students out at Northland, but this is the 21st Century not the 1970s, Fitzroy High is looking at courses in IT, Web & internet, business management, graphics, etc.
• The reason Fitzroy High is suited to shared school programs is it’s central location close to the CBD.  Why would you create programs for ALL public schools in outer suburbs?
• Fitzroy High already has buildings, money spent WILL be on students. (How much did the new demountables at Northcote High cost?)

Although it may not appear to be doing any good, writing letters does work.  All the letters sent to Mary Delahunty and Steve Bracks made them aware, and their minders, it is not just a few agitators who are interested in the school re-opening.

To ensure your letter gets a public airing email a copy of your letter to comment@fitzroyhigh.org.au and it’ll be put up on the web site under the Letters section.  Journalists are using the web site as a source of background information, so your thoughts WILL be seen.