Repair delay puts a dampener on school start

AFTER violent winds ripped through St Andrew's Christian School last November, students and teachers were shocked to see the damage left in its wake.

BETTER THAN EVER: St Andrew’s Christian School principal Mac Lindsay supervises Reuben Kirke in the newly refurbished industrial arts shed. Photo: Kate Matthews

AFTER violent winds ripped through St Andrew's Christian School in Clarenza in November, students and teachers were shocked to see the damage left in its wake.

Part of the roof was torn from the school's industrial arts shed, scattering debris for several hundred metres.

The covered outdoor learning area (COLA) was also destroyed in the storm.

As students returned to school this week for the start of term one, principal Mac Lindsay expected to see the COLA demolished and replaced. Instead he was disappointed to find the area remained fenced off and the wreckage was still on site.

"We depend on the COLA for sporting activities, as a play area out of the weather and for school assemblies," Mr Lindsay said.

"We are still waiting for work to commence and as yet have not been given a commencement date, despite repeated requests to the insurance companies.

"I'm very concerned about the lack of progress."

As for the industrial arts workshop, Mr Lindsay is more than pleased to see it back in action.

"The roof has been repaired and we have brand new equipment - it's better than ever," he said.

Year 10 Timber Technology student Reuben Kirke, 16, is one of about 70 students who will use the workshop for classes each week.

Yesterday he gave the newly refurbished shed a thumbs up.

"It's great," he said.

Classmate Cameron Colledge, 15, was at school during the storm and recalled his impressions of the damage.

"I was pretty shocked," he said.

"Some of the students' work got destroyed and one side of the roof was missing."

The new equipment includes a panel saw, thicknesser, wood-turning lathe, disc sander, pedestal drill, bandsaw and dust extractors.

Originally published as Repair delay puts a dampener on school start