Tears and hand-me-downs: $15m pledge welcomed at Richmond Primary School

Striding past a pair of pigeons pecking at schoolyard crumbs, principal Megan Dell estimates there are usually up to 30 birds inside Richmond Primary School that need chasing out.

It’s a feature of life at this proud but humble school. There are no lifts for wheelchair users’ access, the furniture is mostly hand-me-down, and there’s no staff room for teachers.

Richmond Primary School captains Laylah Ross (from left) and Liam Hargreaves, principal Megan Dell, Labor candidate Lauren O’Dwyer and assistant principal Nerida Burns.Credit: Penny Stephens

During recess and lunchtime, teachers take shifts staffing the school crossing so children can safely cross Mary Street to use the oval for sport.

“And in spite of all that, great learning happens,” Dell told Labor’s Richmond candidate Lauren O’Dwyer and Education Minister Natalie Hutchins on Thursday. “And that keeps your head up, that we’re doing the best with what we’ve got.”

Dell and assistant principal Nerida Burns burst into tears when O’Dwyer, Hutchins and retiring Richmond MP Richard Wynne visited to announce a returned Labor state government would deliver $15.4 million in funding to the school, to build a two-storey building and a rooftop sports field.

The new building will provide space for 100 more children to attend the school.

Richmond Primary sits inside the state electorate of Richmond, which Labor is defending from a concerted campaign by the Greens.

Held by Wynne on a nominal 5.8 per cent after redistribution, it is the Greens’ number-one target seat this election. Both Labor and the Greens are pouring more resources into the electorate than into any other seat this election.

Richmond’s residents are, on the whole, young and mobile. According to the latest census data, 53 per cent of residents rent their homes, compared with the state average of 28.5 per cent, and the average age is 33.

In a survey of about 5500 subscribers and readers of The Age, 36 per cent of people aged 44 and under, and 34 per cent of people aged 45 and older, said education policy would affect their vote in the November 26 poll.

The funding pledge for Richmond Primary is separate to the $1.6 billion schools funding announcement made by Premier Daniel Andrews last month, to build 25 new schools across Victoria by 2026 and expand or upgrade another 90 existing schools.

Victorian public schools remain among the lowest funded per student in Australia, but the Andrews government has previously committed to increase its share of funding to 75 per cent of the standard by 2029.

The Commonwealth government has agreed to pay 20 per cent, meaning there is still no commitment to fully fund public schools in Victoria.

The funding agreement is due for negotiation next year.

with Adam Carey

This story is part of our in-depth local coverage of the key seats of Melton, Hawthorn and Richmond at the November state election.

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