Tharwa Community Goes to Town
MEDIA RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THARWA COMMUNITY GOES TO TOWN
On Monday nearly 50 members of the Tharwa Community attended afternoon tea with the Chief Minister Jon Stanhope. “This is part of a dedicated community effort to save the Tharwa School from possible closure in 2006” said Karim Haddad, Chair of the Tharwa School Board. This followed the first Save Tharwa School Community Meeting, held in the historic Tharwa Hall last week, where 60 local residents, parents, grandparents and teachers attended along with ACT Opposition MLAs Brendan Smyth and Steve Pratt.
It was proposed that Tharwa School will be closed at the end of 2006 as one of the 39 school closures listed. “The closure of the school will have a huge impact not only on the students but on the entire community” said Mr. Haddad. The school is the only community facility for Tharwa.
The focus of last week’s community meeting was to organise people into working groups to effectively present the school’s case for remaining open, and to reinforce it’s position as the lifeblood of the local community. In a demonstration of true Tharwa spirit, the mood was positive, constructive and determined, with members of the community showing no hesitation in volunteering their time and expertise to saving Tharwa School.
The afternoon tea presented an opportunity for members of the Tharwa community to speak personally with Chief Minister Jon Stanhope, Education Minister Andrew Barr, and some of their senior advisors. While parents and other concerned citizens queued in the crowded room to have their questions addressed, Tharwa students banded together to sing their school song in an effort to show their commitment to the school.
Many representatives from the school were able to speak at length with the ministers about how the 2020 proposal directly affects Tharwa school. The community will now focus on specific issues, and develop a proposal to work constructively with the Education minister to keep Tharwa school open.
Media Contacts Narelle Phillips ph: 6294 0397 media@savetharwaschool.com
Fiona Tollis ph: 6294 5648