By KATHRYN BERMINGHAM
FEDERAL MP Russell Broadbent sailed the ocean blue last week, aboard the ‘Toomuc Treasure’ with shipmates from Beaconhills College Junior School.
Parliamentarians, church leaders and local businesspeople were among invited guests at the official opening of a junior school extension last week.
The addition includes four new classrooms, an indoor multi-purpose stadium and landscaping.
But it was the 10 metre-long pirate ship playground that caught the imagination of the guests, particularly Member for McMillan Russell Broadbent and Member for La Trobe Jason Wood.
During a speech at the opening ceremony, Mr Broadbent said the extension would be a place for learning and growing the leaders of the future.
“My expectation is that students across this electorate – from snow to the sea – will be leaders of this nation,” he said.
“You will not only work in Australia, but across the world.”
The building also received the blessing of Assistant Bishop the Right Reverend Paul White from the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne and a prayer from Pakenham Uniting Church Minister Reverend Ann Simons.
A choir made up of junior school children also performed.
Junior school head Peter Hockey encouraged students to respect the facilities as well as those around them.
“These buildings will teach us the three ‘Rs’ – but it is the missing two Rs, respect and relationships, that I hope become central to what these buildings become in the years ahead.”
The $2.8 million development was funded by Beaconhills College assisted by a $850,000 Federal Government contribution as part of the Capital Grants Program.
