Allan gov’s $500k for plan to fix ‘forgotten’ Winchelsea Primary School

A school to the west of Geelong long “forgotten” by the state gov has had a win, with $500k in funds set aside in the budget to formulate a fix.

Winchelsea primary has secured funding for a plan to fix the school.

A “forgotten” primary school west of Geelong that has been lobbying the state government to help repair deteriorating classroom is celebrating a step in the right direction.

A total of $500k was set aside in Tuesday’s budget to kickstart planning for better classrooms at Winchelsea Primary School.

Parents and school council members have been lobbying for upgrades at the school since 2023, complaining of classrooms riddled with asbestos, pests and possum urine.

The council’s president Megan Morris has been a vocal advocate for the desperate need for funding.

2023 Winchelsea primary school council members Shae Callahan and Megan Morris with students Tommy Humphries, Grace Morris with Patrick, Hannah and Elizabeth Humphries. Picture: Brad Fleet

Ms Morris said while initial funds would only go towards a plan, and not actually deliver the upgrades, it was a “step in the right direction”.

“Look, we could not be happier,” Ms Morris said.

“I knew it was going to be a very long uphill battle, given the state of the budget within the Labor government at the moment not being the greatest.

“I was feeling like, towards the end of last year, we weren’t getting anywhere.

“But to be acknowledged that the school needs help, it’s good to see.

“It’s a huge win.”

In 2023 the Geelong Advertiser reported the facilities had not been updated since the 1950s, with then school council president Shae Callahan calling them “past their use by date”.

“We’ve got George the possum – the children have named it – that lives in the roof,” she said.

Ms Morris said in May last year that the school had been “basically forgotten,” with a fence that children could escape through and asbestos in the walls preventing teachers from using pins.

Ms Morris’ daughter Grace, a student at the school, said there were cracks in the walls in some of the classrooms.

“And there is possum poo dripping down (the walls) and possum wee,” Grace said.

“I’d rather that be fixed … So none goes onto people or onto bags.”

Ms Morris said while it was “disappointing” the upgrades wouldn’t come sooner, she was just happy something was finally happening.

“There’s always disappointment,” she said.

“But the reality is we were prepared, we knew it was going to be a long campaign.”

The timeline for the plan is unknown at this stage.

Originally published as Allan gov’s $500k for plan to fix ‘forgotten’ Winchelsea Primary School