There are lots of things you can do to help Save Hurlstone Farm and local green space, including writing to your State MP, signing petitiions, volunteering and donating.
1. Keep pressure on your State MPs - especially those Labor MPs in marginal seats. Don't let them off the hook. They could end this tomorrow if they had the gumption. Labor's caucus can and should be standing up for the community view to the Premier. If these guys won't represent local voter views and get results, why have them at all?
2. Keep letters and emails going and letters to editors. Indeed, don't be afraid to start to tell them "that this might affect your vote and you have a long memory." See our latest email campaign material below.
These are really easy things to do that will make a difference. Please help.
If you want to send a letter or email to your local MP or a Minister - you might want to draft your own using the material on this site or cut and paste in the following (and insert the appropriate detail). There is a Word version if you prefer to write formally.
Dear (Insert name)
I write to express concern about a particular element in the Hurlstone Inquiry Report that is likely to preclude broad support and would entrench a very bad model for the future.The Hurlstone Inquiry Report contains many recommendations which draw directly from the SHEAP (Save Hurlstone Agricultural Educational Property) submission which I supported. The report properly recognizes the need to increase the existing farm acreage, the heritage of the farm and the necessity of maintaining local green space. I support the thrust of the proposed Agricultural Centre of Excellence.
However, the Recommendation to split the farm and boarding facilities from the school and make it report directly to the DET Regional Director undermines confidence in the future and is not acceptable. The DET has tried 3 times in 30 years to sell the farm and has overseen the deterioration in the boarding facilities. Indeed, DET is clearly criticized in the Report as not understanding agricultural education. Giving them more control will not inspire public confidence and it won’t improve farm management.
The school has been a proud custodian of that land and has managed to keep it going, despite an estimated $14 million under-investment by the very Department that would have direct control if this unworkable structure was adopted. The Hurlstone provides the greatest revenue per hectare of the three agricultural schools, despite facing higher maintenance costs and older facilities. It is the most efficient of the three specialist school farm. It needs to improve, but with the school, not divided from it.
The best future for any proposed Centre requires integrated school, farm and boarding facilities to ensure the continued excellence in agricultural education at Hurlstone. Welfare of boarding students and day to day coordination between school and farm activities requires more control by a well supported and resourced Principal than is proposed. Our experience and the Isolated Children’s Parents Association tell us that parents prefer an integrated school and boarding model. We believe that rural and regional parents are more likely to send their children to a safe, properly resourced integrated farm and school, rather than a commercial business unit split from the school. Parent support is vital if we are to improve demand. Better facilities and more boarders are the keys, not different management.The city-country bridge has kept Hurlstone sending more children into agricultural study than any other school, despite the well documented challenges. We need to build on that culture, not divide it.
The principles of the rest of the Report are likely to get broad agreement except for the inclusion of this “poison pill” management proposal which undermines support and sets Hurlstone and its farm up for failure. I ask that you not be the person that splits this high performing Public School from the land and boarding school, but support a better Vision for an integrated, positive future – that is more likely to get stakeholder support.
