College faces audit
Friday, March 31, 2017 – Bendigo Weekly
Education department moves in on BSE
department declined to talk about on the basis of privacy. But the Bendigo Weekly has obtained a copy of a separate letter signed by department regional director north western region Jeanette Nagorcka which states an independent auditor had been engaged “to conduct a full financial audit of BSE”. The letter asks the recipient to submit information and evidence relating to their concerns which relate to alleged misconduct and nepotism. Bendigo’s education sector is
in the grip of reform fever, with principals asked to participate in a national review of rural education
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The Bendigo Education Plan, 12 years after its conception, is also under review with a result expected
Principal Ernie Fleming is on a period of extended leave which the department declined to talk about
as cuts that end the Gonski funding loom at the end of 2017. The Victorian government will decide in the May budget what percentage of the cuts it will make up.
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By Sharon kemp
THE Department of Education and Training is conducting a full financial audit of Bendigo South East College, according to a letter obtained by the Bendigo Weekly. A department spokesperson yesterday confirmed acting principal Dale Pearce, on loan from Bendigo Senior Secondary, would continue at the college through term two. “A letter was sent to the school community this week explaining that Mr Pearce will continue in this role,” the spokesperson said. Principal Ernie Fleming is on a period of extended leave which the
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by the end of the year. Under the plan, BSE has grown exponentially and with enrolments this year of 1546, according to the department figures, is the largest ju-
nior secondary college in the city. Its size gives it state funding of $13.8 million this year. The next two biggest colleges are Weeroona College and Eaglehawk Secondary College each have indicative enrolments of 580 this year. Crusoe Secondary College’s $6.5m funding is for an enrolment of 565 students in 2017. Bendigo East MP Jacinta Allan has confirmed zoning would be up for discussion in formulating the education plan in Bendigo for the next decade. Ms Allan will be part of the working group reviewing the Bendigo Education Plan.
Dragon funding raised by MP
heads up: Perry Hawke, Katherine Andrea and Alissa Van Soest. Photo: ANDREW PERRYMAN
Discover how the human body works What’s the most complicated machine on earth? And here’s a hint – you are one of them. With their Fully Sick school holiday program, Discovery Science and Technology Centre will help you learn about your body, how illness affects us and how doctors can test our health. Manager Jonathan Ridnell said the science show will use fun and interactive demonstrations to show how the human machine
works, and what medical tests are really looking for. “We’ve accessed NASA’s latest human genome data to put on our planetarium dome,” he said. “It’s miserable feeling sick on earth – what’s it like in the International Space Station? Sick Space explains the experiments going on to work out how to keep astronauts healthy as we prepare for a human flight to Mars. “And we’re mixing water with human body challeng-
the
es. Can you move liquid faster than your heart? And what is your lung capacity? Discovery volunteers will be on hand to explain some of the amazing facts about our heart and lungs – the organs that help the human body work.” Join Discovery for the Fully Sick guide to a fully incredible human body. Shows at noon and 2pm, the Bendigo Planetarium presentation at 11.30am, 12.30pm and 1.30pm, and
join in the fun with the Beat your Heartbeat hands on activity between noon and 3.30pm. “Discovery is not open on public holidays, but we will be out and about at Easter,” Mr Ridnell said. “On Good Friday we’ll be joining in the fun at Rosalind Park, and on Saturday, we’ll be at the House of Mirrors helping explain the science of reflection and putting a spotlight on optical illusions.”
FEDERAL Member for Bendigo, Lisa Chesters has spoken in parliament about the Bendigo Chinese Association’s campaign for a new dragon to replace an ageing Sun Loong. Speaking in the final week of parliament before Easter and the federal budget, Ms Chesters this week said while many Australians were looking forward to a break over the Easter period, this was not the case in Bendigo. “Bendigo actually has the longest continuous Easter festival in our country. Since the 1890s, we have always had an imperial Chinese dragon involved in the main event of our Easter festival, the gala parade,” she said. “First it was Loong, who was first involved in the Easter festival in the 1890s. Loong is so well regarded that he was actually involved in federation. He is one of the only artefacts remaining of federation and the birth of this place. “When Loong became old he was replaced with Sun Loong. With the assistance of Qantas in the 1960s, Sun Loong, made in Hong Kong by dragon experts, was flown to Australia. He has participated in every Easter festival since. “Now, Sun Loong is too
old and needs to retire by 2018. So the Bendigo community, the Bendigo Chinese Association and the Golden Dragon Museum have kick started a campaign asking people to donate towards the purchase of Dai Gum Loong, the third dragon that we hope to have in Bendigo since the 1890s.” Ms Chesters told parliament this was the opportunity for the federal government to get on board and help Bendigo purchase its third dragon. “This long legacy of Chinese dragons needs to continue,” she said. During the 2016 federal election campaign, Ms Chesters announced Labor would provide $400,000 for Sun Loong’s restoration and to assist in purchase of a new imperial dragon. She said Sun Loong was a critical element of the Bendigo Easter Festival. “Each year Sun Loong is the major highlight of the festival’s gala street parade with generations of local families and visitors lining the streets each and every year,” Ms Chesters said. The campaign to raise $750,000 for a new dragon, to be known as Dai Gum Loong, and for the restoration of Sun Loong, was officially launched last week.
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