MAY 26, 2020 \ STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
(Damjan Janevski) 208676_08
Fighting to help While the closure of gyms across Victoria has been a dificult pill to swallow for many, it has brought a local group of boxers closer together. The HITFIT Boxing gym in Melton has been closed for nearly two months now, but since offering online classes the community has banded together to help each other. Gym owner Darcy Ellis said it had been inspiring to see. “The silver lining of this whole situation has been seeing how quickly people have adapted, and also seeing everyone sticking together through this tough time,” Mr Ellis said. “We’ve had people donating pieces of itness equipment, or hand sanitiser and toilet paper, just whatever others in the gym community needed to get by.” While some of the restrictions are starting to ease, Mr Ellis said the gym would likely continue to offer online classes for some time. “We’ve all been able to support each other through this and that will continue once we get through this. It’s more than just a gym now, it’s like a little village.” Ewen McRae
DARCY ELLIS
Cash splash for schools By Ewen McRae A multi-million dollar investment is set to boost education across Melton. he state government last week announced that Staughton College and Exford Primary School would both beneit from upgraded facilities and general improvements, while a new primary school will be built at Bridge Road in Melton. he new school, which will open in 2022, will provide places for 525 students. Staughton College was the big winner of the funding announcement, with the government
providing $5.85 million for an extension of the school gym and refurbishment of classrooms. his is in addition to $650,000 already promised in this year’s state budget. Melton MP Steve McGhie said the upgrades were important for the school community and would also help create local jobs. “his investment will upgrade our schools, create thousands of jobs and help our economy recover from coronavirus,” Mr McGhie said. “We’re investing record funding in education so all people in Melton, regardless of their background or circumstances, get a world-class education.”
Exford Primary School will receive $2.4 million to upgrade its water and sewerage site services, and will also replace old relocatable buildings with new permanent classrooms. Melton mayor Lara Carli said the investment was vital as the Melton community continued to grow, and she was hopeful future announcements would help the west. “With such a fast-growing population, increased provision of, and investment in, education facilities has long been a top advocacy priority for council,” Cr Carli said. “We commend the Victorian government on this signiicant funding package, which
will see the delivery of much-needed projects, stimulate the economy, and create jobs at such a critical time. “We look forward to receiving further details and are hopeful that additional transformational projects including the Western Rail Plan, Melton Hospital, Western Highway and Melton Highway upgrades, form part of the next stage of this economic recovery package. “hese projects will not only help the economy get back on its feet but will help transform Melbourne’s west into a thriving and diverse economic centre of the future.”
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