IT was standing room only for the blessing of the new Sapphire Community Primary Industries Trades Skills Centre on the Glen Innes Road. Holy Trinity students, teachers, families and guests were led through a short service, led by Father Jose Adriano of Sacred Heart Church.
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After prayer and song, Father Joe first blessed the teaching building where the congregated were seated, then walked outside, to bless the new facility and equipment made possible by a $660,000 grant. Holy Trinity became eligible for funding as a part of the Sapphire Schools Training Consortium, backed by Macintyre High School who will share in the facilities.
New additions to the once rustic yards and shed include a three-bay machine and storage building with a lock up, cattle yards, a purpose-built teaching building with toilet and showers, several water tanks, benches and a shiny New Holland 55 hp Workmaster tractor with fork lift and front-end loader.
Outgoing principal, Val Thomas gave thanks to the commonwealth government and members of the Catholic Schools office. She expressed heartfelt appreciation for Macintyre principal Lindsay Paul for his support, and that of the Department of Education to facilitate the grant.
“Because if it wasn’t for their co-operation, it if wasn’t for their commitment, if it wasn’t for their vision and their desire to offer their very best for the children of this town, we would just have the same facility as we had before,” Ms Thomas said.
“We wouldn’t have even been able to initiate this project. Not just for our school and your school, but for the children; the young people of Inverell and the local area.”
Mr Paul agreed that between schools, boundaries were irrelevant when it came to providing for their children.
“Well, it’s really important the community works together for the best outcomes for the kids and for the town,” he said.
“The reality is, primary industries is a big part of our community, and so working together so the kids can have a pathway through, is just common sense to me.”
Agriculture teacher, Kathy Townsend said facility was both extremely exciting and has potential for students with and without farm backgrounds.
“What we can now deliver with this is just amazing,” she said. “That’s part of my job that I absolutely love; watching kids blossom and develop that extra confidence and those skills.”
