Parkdale’s Parktone Primary School excited after Liberal promise of $3.5m redevelopment

TEACHERS at Parktone Primary School have been “cartwheeling down the hallways” after news of a $3.5 million election promise.

Transport Minister Terry Mulder announces pedestrian crossings in Edithvale with MP Lorraine Wreford who start a petition calling for improvements to the crossing.. Picture: Susan Windmiller

TEACHERS at Parktone Primary School have been “cartwheeling down the hallways” after news of a $3.5 million election promise.

Mordialloc state Liberal MP Lorraine Wreford and Education Minister Martin Dixon broke the news to the school today that it would get the cash for a major redevelopment if the Coalition Government is returned to power at November’s election.

The school’s principal George Danson declared the announcement as a “wonderful surprise”.

“I was able to email our staff with the news and they’re still cartwheeling down the hallways right now,” he said.

Mr Danson said the money would go towards a much-needed school hall, as well as new playgrounds and classroom facilities.

“From the beginning of her term, Lorraine Wreford told us she wanted to help us out by getting a hall or something for us,” Mr Danson said.

“It makes us feel validated and it feels like a reward for the hard work we’ve done.

“We were on the verge of just 100 students five years ago, and now we have 500.

“A hall is a must, because the only place we can meet at the moment is outside, and the weather has a habit of coming down on us at times.”

Mr Dixon said the Napthine Government was committed to improving education in Mordialloc.

“This $3.5 million investment will enable the Parktone Primary School community to upgrade its facilities and build a high quality school hall for assemblies and celebrations, to support the learning and teaching of this rapidly growing school community,” Mr Dixon said.

Ms Wreford said she would be pleased to see the upgrade through if she and the Coalition Government were re-elected.

“I look forward to working with the school community as the local member in a re-elected Napthine Government, to deliver this important upgrade for Parktone Primary and the broader Mordialloc community,” Ms Wreford said.