Outdoor education gets cash boost

STUDENTS at Damascus College will soon have an outdoor gym thanks to a Federal government grant.

Member for Ballarat Catherine King visited the school in Mount Clear last Friday to announce $20,000 for the project had been allocated from the Local Schools Community Fund.

Damascus College principal Matthew Byrne said the new equipment would find a range of uses.

“We’re really excited to get this grant,” he said. “For students it enhances both our in-class activity and then our other programs running across the school. Our co-curricular activities, it gives them another set of facilities.”

The outdoor gym and fitness area will be located on the southside of the campus, near the existing tennis courts.

Running to a total cost of up to $40,000 the school was able to draw on reserve funds to complete the works which will also involve the installation of a softer ground surface.

The space should be ready for use within six months.

“It provides a series of activity stations adjacent to our recreational area for young people to exercise and build up their strength and conditioning,” Mr Byrne said. “We’ll make a contribution to get this project underway.”

Damascus was chosen ahead of several other area projects to receive the grant money.

While there’s a significant amount of controversy around Federal government grants currently, especially in the sporting and fitness arena, Ms King said the decision to award the money to Damascus College was made independently.

“We had we had a panel with someone who has a background in Catholic schools, independent schools and public schools,” she said. “We had that to work out where the money should go.”