Kinder pupil gives crane a name

THE 50-metre high crane helping to build the $85 million GMHBA headquarters now has a name, following a competition run for the benefit of Northern Bay College in Norlane.

The crane at the 60 Moorabool Street site has been named “Boomka” by kindergarten pupil Sunni, in reference to the noise a crane makes.

Project partners Quintessential Equity, GMHBA and builder Kane Constructions ran the “Name the Crane” competition for kindergarten and prep pupils at the college, and made a combined $10,000 donation to the college’s Early Learning Centre.
The newly named crane was officially unveiled on site last week.

Quintessential Equity executive chairman Shane Quinn said he was excited to give a name to the crane in a way that also supports education in the area.

“We are proud to come together with our project partners to support Northern Bay College which is making a great contribution to this diverse community through education. It’s great that the students were also able to have fun and play a small but certainly noticeable part in the development of our project.

“We are officially welcoming Boomka to the sky and hope that the people of Geelong can look up and call the crane by its name as they see the building take shape. It’s also a reminder of the importance of supporting one another as Northern Bay College plays a vital role in offering education to those that face difficult and unfortunate circumstances.”

Quintessential Equity, GMHBA and Kane Constructions are all signatories of the G21 Region Opportunities for Work (GROW) compact – an initiative focused on maximising economic and social outcomes in the Geelong region.

Northern Bay College is one of Victoria’s largest public schools and its Early Learning Centre, encompassing childcare and kindergarten, relies on the generosity of the community to support local families in need.

“We are so grateful for the kindness and generosity of this donation, which will allow us to enhance the outdoor learning areas with stimulating play equipment,” Northern Bay College principal Scott Diamond said.

“This will benefit not only the current 2020 children who entered the competition, but also the future families in years to come.”

Major bulk excavation and earthworks is ongoing at the site. Completion is slated for mid-2021.