PERTH, WA: June 15, 1989
Number 2640
Registered by Australia Post Publication No. WAR 0202
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Land so dear to us...
Catholic parishes are putting their money where their mouths are, Bishop Healy told a big gathering attending the latest blessing and official opening of Catholic primary school facilities. Acquiring land at a reasonable cost is one of the biggest headaches facing future Catholic schools, the bishop said. Most developers had been helpful but "we have had problems too," he added. Bishop Healy called on the Bateman community to reflect on the significance of what the parish had done in the development of their school. The parish he said, has in effect given the children top priority by buying the
land and contributing to the school cost. This priority had been put ahead of other parish priorities such as the construction of a new church he said. The bishop said that even that amount of assistance would not have been possible without government assistance. State Minister for Education, Dr Carmen Lawrence, officially opened the final two stages of the school constructed in 1988 and 1989 and including six classrooms, a multipurpose room, supporting teachers room and canteen. Starting with 179 children in 1985
the school now had 489 pupils and with a second Year Seven next year would reach its full enrolment of 525. The foundation principal, Sister Maura Kelleher, noted that the blessing and opening ceremony had been planned as a culmination of WA Week with special school projects recalling with thanks the pioneering efforts of the Bateman community over the four and a half years. She described as fantastic the quality and the extent of involvement of voluntary labour and the expertise that had enabled the school to get off to such a start.
She said the school was particularly blessed also in its teaching staff and this sentiment was echoed by the school board chairman Mr John Vidovich. She said the school was also grateful for the State government low interest loan which it had secured for the first time with this project. The architect was also praised for the design which has dispensed with verandahs to the classroom blocks, combining them to make three covered atriums for school circulation and activity.
Sudden death of Pope John Paul I: Author provides many angles • Pages 6 and 12
Incest and sex abuse right in your house • Pages 10 and 11
Perth churches cater for the disabled • Page 3