AMALGAMATE MOREE SECONDARY COLLEGE TO THE CAROL AVENUE SITE

In 2022, a significant decision was made to unify the Moree Secondary College into a single-campus school after discussions in 2017 by the school P&C began about consolidating the school to one site. The School Reference Group quickly answered and decided that the Albert Street Campus would be the new school, overruling Carol Avenue Campus. (This is observed from the Meeting Minutes uploaded by Moree Plains Shire Council). It was put to a vote to the community by the NSW Schools Infrastructure by a survey. The community voted and chose Albert Street Senior Campus as the preferred location with the 8th of December 2023 being the last day of Carol Avenue’s operation. However, I believe that this choice was influenced by an unfair perception of the southwest side of Moree, where Carol Avenue Junior Campus is situated, moving to Albert Street is a big mistake.

Carol Avenue has more land and untapped potential for new school infrastructure which can provide better facilities for our students' education and overall development. It's not just about choosing a campus; it's about choosing what's best for our children's future.

Carol Avenue, which was formerly Courallie High School was established in 1972 after Moree High School had too many enrolments, so Moree needed another high school they saw the land at Carol Avenue which had potential, and they wanted this school away from the flood. Although today the campus does flood and originally the site was a swamp, however the landscape at Carol Avenue can be fixed to better fit new school infrastructure and resist flooding.

The negative perception of youth crime in the southwest side should not dictate such an important decision. Instead, we should see this as an opportunity to invest in that area and potentially create a school that will provide enough space for new facilities, buildings, and other student needs and such. Take Moree East Public School for example, a successful Connected Communities primary school in Southwest Moree, so having the high school located in the area won't be problematic. This would also increase the partnership and connection with the high school and primary school in the Connected Communities directorate, making transition and student voice better. Another school located in the area is also Moree Christian School, an independent religious school.

It has also been noted that the school community only voted Albert Street to be the preferred single campus because of the facilities the campus already has, but not putting in mind that with this consolidation project would be new school infrastructure, that would allow more facilities, opportunities and growth, but the Albert Street campus doesn’t have enough land to situate a potential state-of-the-art school.

We need to reconsider this decision based on what is truly best for our students – more space at Carol Avenue means room for growth, better facilities, and ultimately a brighter future for all students in Moree. 

We should also note that Albert Street Campus's Agriculture plot and Multi-Purpose Centre are located off campus.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Public Secondary Education in Moree has gone through many events and has a lot of history, most becoming problematic, such as the amalgamation of Courallie High School and Moree Tech High, problems from the past have created ongoing problems for our school currently today. We can eliminate these problems by actually focusing and making the right decision, properly determining our future, and stopping the constant change of public secondary education in Moree that leads to long-term problems.

Why is it that Courallie High School/Carol Avenue Junior Campus has received such a negative reputation and perspective? Well once again the location of where the campus situates is definitely one of the reasons, the South-West area of Moree has a high trend of youth crime, and it's always been that way, another reason is also because of the Barwon Learning Centre which is located right on Courallie's campus. The campus is prone to flooding, site was originally a swamp, infrastructure is outdated, the campus had a high rate in suspensions and behavioural issues. We should realise that all of these addressed problems that the campus has are fixable situations that are temporary. Consider and realise the potential and imagine the future what this campus could provide, whatever it may be if not a school, but at least something that would be useful for Moree.

What led to Courallie High School's establishment?
around the late 60s, Moree High School was getting populated in student enrolments as the town was booming, the school was running out of space to provide for a lot of students, so the town and department had proposed for another new high-school in Moree. They wanted the high-school away from the river, so it wouldn't flood, they discovered the potential site at South-West Moree, Carol Avenue. They began construction in 1971 with $1 Million AUD for the new buildings, they later established this school as Courallie High School. It was named by the local Member for Barwon in the NSW Parliament, and Minister for Agriculture, The Honourable Geoff Crawford.

 

 

 

 

 

 

What if Moree's population, especially the youth population does unexpectedly grow and Moree expands once again? Moree Plains Shire Council is looking to expand South-West Moree, so an existing high school in that area would be useful, especially since Moree Secondary College could expand to more land that goes down from Boston Street from Carol Avenue if needed.

The area where the old weather station used to be, opposite the front of the Carol Avenue campus entry gate, which is now empty land with overgrown grass and old ruins of the old weather station, which the property is believed to be owned by Moree Plains Shire Council. This wasted land can be potentially used by Moree Secondary College if given.

Also, if you consider how sports are popular in Moree and especially at the school, the Albert Street Campus actually has a lack of sporting facilities on campus, and the Carol Avenue Campus has more to provide with the amount of land to do sports, especially if you consider that the junior campus has only just received the new basketball court that provides a shelter in Term 4, 2023. The basketball court at the Albert Street Campus is significantly smaller and does not provide shade. The netball courts at Albert Street had to be removed due to being outdated and replaced by the demountables that situate the boys' and girls' academies. 

The Junior Campus also has potential for better agricultural education, the agricultural facility at Albert Street is located off campus, between the skate park and Essential Energy business the agricultural facility is significantly smaller than Carol Avenue's agricultural facility. Which is disappointing as agriculture is a popular subject at the school, and is important especially as the school's geographical location and how Moree is popular and known for it's agriculture. Carol Avenue Campus could've also been a more sustainable campus that would also make sustainable development more important and effective, especially indigenous culture.

Also considering that being on the Albert Street Campus has increased traffic during the mornings and afternoons, when school starts and ends, since it is the central business district of the town and there is also a public school on the same street and transportation to school is mostly common via vehicle or bus. This could also put more stress on bus drivers due to the environment and traffic, as well stress for parents when it comes for dropping off and picking up their child. Students also complained about how the school is an crowded environment, which is odd as the student enrolment numbers are low, it could possibly be due to the existing infrastructure.

Another reasoning is that there is also a higher population of students from the South area of Moree, such as the Amaroo neighbourhood. The school being closer to students would be quicker and easier for the majority that live in the area. This year the school currently has only 60% students attending school, and low attendance to school and/or class has increased.

Let us put aside biases and make decisions based on facts rather than perceptions. Let us reconsider Carol Avenue Junior Campus as the sole location of Moree Secondary College, Albert Street Campus would be better off as a potential commercial zone.

If the school community regrets the decision of Albert Street Campus, and if further problems arise of the campus, will the idea to return to Carol Avenue Campus ever be agreed upon, if put aside the perception of the location and realise the potential?

The proposed vision is that if the decision were to be reversed and relocation to the junior campus is possible, students can stay at Albert Street while the Carol Avenue site gets new school infrastructure, once construction is complete then a transition can happen, if we were to reconsider relocating to Carol Avenue. We would need to constantly push for the allocation of funding from the Department of Education and truly make public education in Moree at the forefront and centre.

In conclusion, the consolidation to Albert Street is a big mistake that may present future problems. There are so many ideas on what a school we could've created at Carol Avenue Campus. Not only have we abandoned a campus, but we’ve abandoned the potential, and opportunities presented at the junior campus, a path that we may regret not choosing.

Let us convince the school community and attract the NSW Department of Education and NSW Schools Infrastructures' attention to this matter.

To make this change come true please sign this petition if you agree that the sole location of Moree Secondary College should be the Carol Avenue Campus.