Special education facility right step for Dubbo
Everything old is new again
REMEMBER the old Fairview special needs school in South Dubbo and how it had a hydrotherapy pool?
Well, after it was all knocked down for reasons I never really understood, it looks like the city is finally getting a new version.
I always felt that the school’s demolition was a cynical land/ cash grab by the then state government and that Dubbo residents were ripped off, so it’s great to see that the current state government is finally fixing up a problem left by a government where disgraced minister Eddie Obeid and his mates had far too much of a say.
I’m not suggesting Obeid had anything to do with the decision to bulldoze Fairview and deprive the city of its hydrotherapy pool, but the decision to knock it down has never sat well with me.
Dubbo played host to NSW Education Minister Rob Stokes this week as he announced that students with a range of learning needs and disabilities will benefit from a new education and support precinct.
“This will aggregate in one facility an array of specialist services for students from Dubbo and the west with a range of learning needs and disabilities,” Mr Stokes said.
The current West Dubbo Infants site, opposite Delroy Campus, will be the site of the new school and the Infants School will be installed in new classrooms at West Public School, according to Member for Dubbo Troy Grant.
“These projects are further strengthening the asset that this education precinct at Dubbo West offers our community,” Mr Grant said.
Troy Grant pointed out that Jane Diffey hammered him so much about the need for this school that he gave her a part-time job, Jane’s going to be a great asset on the new Dubbo Regional Council (DRC).
New and refurbished facilities at the precinct include:
A school for specific purposes including four classrooms with practical activities areas, withdrawal spaces and store rooms; a special programs room; a games court and a student drop-off with a porte cochere;
A networked specialist centre, offering a range of multi-disciplinary health and education services with a range of multi-purpose rooms and office space; and
Shared facilities such as multi-purpose spaces, an administration area, high level technology facilities and staff facilities.
Across the university
IT’S been a big week for education in Dubbo with Minister Stokes also presiding over the facelift at the Charles Sturt University (CSU) campus.
CSU Vice-chancellor, Professor Andrew Vann said that the $2.5 million facilities and amenities of the university are designed with students’ needs top of mind.
“The refurbishment and upgrades will improve student learning spaces, and ensure there is now 24/7 access for online and on-campus students,” said Professor Vann.
Head of Campus Cathy Maginnis said the completed works were part of the second stage of the review to revitalise student spaces at the heart of the campus.
“There is a real sense of community on campus in Dubbo and we aim to ensure that not only the students but also community groups can make use of the university as a venue to meet and work, and train,” Ms Maginnis said.
“We plan to extend access for our alumni to 24/7 use of spaces such as the gym and meeting rooms.”
The upgrade program of works included:
Improving the Learning Commons to enhance student amenity and provide quiet study spaces; this includes an additional quiet study room, a new parent and multi-faith room, and a staff kitchen, as well as two new flat-floor flexible teaching spaces fronting onto the courtyard;
Providing a café in the main space adjacent to the Learning Commons, which incorporates a kitchenette for students to use 24/7;
Relocating the existing computer lab to become a shared space with the Learning Commons (i.e. accessible 24/7).
Top teachers
STILL on school and lots of awards for high school teachers in recent times.
Delroy’s Vicki Budden and Rachel Cody along with South Campus’ Susan Yaghjian received minister’s awards for Excellence on Teaching, so Dubbo scored three of just 37 of these awards which were given to teachers across the state.
Meantime, St Johns College’s Natalie Polak was presented with a medal highlighting her entry into the exclusive “Highly Accomplished” teaching club – she’s one of just 170 teachers in NSW to receive this honour.
Blue wall
IT sounds blasé but when you’re a cop, you never really know what’s around the corner on your next shift, you really are in the front line of the thin blue line that responds to every crappy situation a pretty dysfunctional society throws up.
I caught up with the local contingent as they were suiting up to head off to meet up with 2000odd comrades in the annual wallto-wall ride, a remembrance tribute to police who’ve lost their lives in the course of duty.
Justin Knight is a local bloke who’s been recognised for having put his life on the line for the public. He’s now with the Hunter Highway Patrol but came back to Dubbo so he could participate on the ride with his dad Phil, who retired from the force a few years back after serving nearly three decades in the job.
“It highlights to the community all the fallen police over the years and also it provides support to the police families who have suffered from their loss, suffering which is still going on through their lives,” Justin said, pleased to see so many of his dad’s mates who have now left the job, but are still mates through that shared “Blue” bond.
“We’ve just had RUOK Day, so that continual catching-up is very good for PTSD (Post-traumatic stress disorder), they can fall back on each other for support, and I fall back on my dad for support during my hard days.”
Western Region commander Geoff Mckechnie was just another bikie in the gang; he makes sure he joins this ride with old mates.
“It’s really important. This time of year we come together for the Wall to Wall, it’s great to come together and ride to Sydney or Canberra, it’s just a chance to reflect, you can relax a bit and we’ve always got our mates and fallen colleagues in our minds of course, but this is a great weekend for remembrance that everyone seems to enjoy,” Geoff said.