The Reward for Success is Punishment

Over the past four years the Lorne P-12 College has made outstanding improvements in student learning outcomes, welfare and engagement, which has led to an increase in their enrolment, particularly in the secondary years.  Despite these achievements the College is facing cuts to three different areas of funding.

At this time of the year, every school in the state is given a Student Resource Package, or budget for the following twelve months.  Part of that package is an amount to run middle years literacy and numeracy programs for students who need support.  The amount given is based on NAPLAN (National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy), results in year 9 and to receive benchmark funding a school must have between 16 to 50 eligible students in this level.  Guess what?  Some smaller schools may not have 16 in that level in any given year.  As a result, in next year’s budget the Lorne P-12 College suffers a loss of $44, 200 to support students who may need literacy or numeracy intervention.  Where is the equity that the State Government repeatedly champions in so many other areas?  Well, apparently, not if you attend a small school.  The changes are both terrible and illogical.

Unlike larger schools, the Lorne P-12 College does not have an oval nor a gymnasium.  However, next door is the Stribling Reserve containing an oval and gymnasium managed by the Surf Coast Shire.  Historically, the department included in the budget an allowance to clean and maintain these facilities, not an unreasonable proposition.  Each year the Lorne P-12 College receives around $27,000 form the Education Department allowing the school to run physical education classes, sporting activities and provide space for the children to play during recess and lunchtime.  The loss of these funds will impact upon the use of these facilities.

The Lorne College is one of forty-eight P-12 Colleges throughout the State.  Originally found in remote locations from Mallacoota to Nhill this model saved the state department the cost of running two separate schools or bussing students to larger centres.  As compensation, the colleges were given an allowance in recognition of the complexity of managing two sectors with differing cultures on one site, these schools received a modest allowance.  This year, Lorne received $65,000 in their budget.

The Lorne P-12 College has levels of school performance in the domains of student learning and wellbeing that are assessed as high.  The funds for these three programs mentioned are to be phased out over four years.  At least the State Government wishes to inflict the pain over time.  However, you do not sustain these gains by punishing the school or by making it harder to access community facilities that other schools have as a matter of course.  Readers may wonder when driving past the magnificent recreational facilities at wealthy private schools, significantly part-funded by both Federal and State Governments and larger government schools, where is the equity?  The College will not reduce its core teaching program, but it will be forced to assess how these three cuts will impact the students and the broader community.  As usual it will be the “non-essential” programs; the school production, the school musical offerings, travel to arts and cultural programs that may suffer.  Things that I contend are essential to provide for students in smaller remoter settings where access may be restricted.

The College has attracted students from outside of their zone, because some students are better suited to smaller class sizes and to the unique learning environment on offer. The personal attention that students receive is not only attractive to the able and gifted students, of which Lorne has many, but also to students who need additional support to learn.  The funding for this stream of support has all but disappeared.  I say shame on the Education Department, the Ministers and Premier of the Victorian Government who are all big on the rhetoric of inclusion and equity, but quick to cut the resources of the perceived powerless.  Our smaller townships are suffering enough from the lack of essential workers impacting businesses, the high cost of living impacting residents that often don’t have the option shop elsewhere and now the State Government wants to make senseless and illogical cuts to our school funding as well.

Gary Allen

Secretary

Committee for Lorne

A word from the chairman

Hello

As you read this column, hopefully we will have had our first taste of summer weather after a long and cold spring.  Undeterred by cloudy, rainy, windy weather and 10 degrees “feels like 2”, the Mermaids came out in their new cossies to welcome the first day of summer but didn’t stay chatting for long afterwards.  While we have all shivered through spring, the farmers have relished the prospect of good crops and feed.  We hope it bring a productive season for them.

Of course, good spring rains and growth of vegetation bring with them the prosect of bushfires in February/March when the undergrowth dries off. It is now timely to review our bushfire readiness.  Don’t allow the unseasonal weather to fool us.

The Fire Danger Period for the Surf Coast Shire, declared by the Country Fire Authority (CFA), commenced on November 24 and runs until 1 May 2026, meaning that fire restrictions are already in place across the Surf Coast Shire.

To find out what you can and can’t do during the Fire Danger Period go to cfa.vic.gov.au.

The restrictions include:

• Burning off is not allowed on any day unless you have a Fire Danger permit issued by the CFA. Burning without a permit can incur a fine of up to $16,900 or 12-months jail.
• Barbecues and campfires may only be lit in a properly constructed barbecue or fireplace, when the wind is less than 10 km/h and with a 3 metre clearance from flammable material. A person must be in attendance at all times when the fire is alight and the fire must be completely extinguished before leaving.
• Chainsaws, plant or grass trimmers and lawn mowers may not be used on dry (not green) vegetation, unless the machine is free from faults and mechanical defects that could cause an outbreak of fire, and fitted with an efficient spark arrester. A person must be in attendance at all times the machine is being used and must carry fire suppression equipment being, a fully charged knapsack spray pump or a fully charged water fire extinguisher.

*****

You should have a fire readiness plan which includes:

• Packing an Emergency Kit and keeping it in a handy place.
• Scanning important documents.
• Planning to leave early on high-risk days.
• Planning where you will go when all your other bushfire plans have failed.

The Point Grey (Pier) Precinct will no longer be a Bushfire Place of Last Resort when construction commences in February 2026, which means the Bushfire Place of Last Resort is the Lorne Foreshore.

The CFA and Surf Coast Shire websites have many more useful resources to assist your preparedness.

And of course, now is the time to clean up your property of any flammable materials and maintain this over the summer period.

We know that Lorne is an area of extreme bushfire risk but, if we all work together, we can manage the risk.

Cheers

Lorne Ward Events Calendar

December

5 Lorne FNC Annual General Meeting, 5pm at Stribling Reserve, Nomination and Proxy Forms – www.lornefnc.com.au

6-7 Christmas Arts & Craft market, featuring the work of local artists and craft makers. 10am-4pm at Lorne Community Connect

13 Take a photo with Santa, at Lorne Visitor Info Centre Kids Face Painting 10am-1pm

14 Deans Marsh Market,  at Deans Marsh Reserve 4.30pm-8.30pm

14 Music at the Marsh, Christmas Edition 4.30pm – 8.30pm

20 Carols Lorne, St Cuthberts Church – 6.30pm Sausage sizzle 7.30pm Carols