What Our Community Is Saying?
'Every school day after 7am, if you drive around Bungendore, you will see large groups of high school students waiting for buses to Canberra, Queanbeyan or Braidwood. For those out of town, their commute often starts much earlier and can be over two hours each way. That’s a long tiring day for a 12-year-old, let alone a student studying for their Year 12.'
(Laura Fulton, grandmother and long-term resident of the Bungendore area)
'Our community desperately needs a high school... I strongly believe that the current site is the best site available, on the proposed Majara / Gibraltar precinct. There are significant benefits in co-locating the high school with the primary school and preschool from both an educational perspective as well as a social/community perspective....
It would allow for the school to be integrated into the community and would support community service programs set up by the high school to better involve the students in the community and encourage them to give back to and support their community. We frequently hear complaints about the young people around town cause some mischief or make some bad decisions. We need to ensure that our young people feel connected to and valued by this town. Building this high school and making it our priority not only shows our young people that we value them and place importance on their education, it also provides a significantly greater ability to create opportunities for building their connection with our community.
Further, it supports the development of our local sporting and other groups within the community as young people are looking to participate in activities that are based in Bungendore rather than travelling to the area in which they go to school. This in turn encourages additional opportunities for new activities to be established in Bungendore, further supporting our young people in their own personal development, and the development of their connection to the community.'
(Lisa Eldridge, Bungendore resident, high school teacher and community volunteer)
‘I no longer have school-aged kids, so I'm thinking about a high school from a broader, societal standpoint. Having a school that would offer high-quality education to local students without the need for extensive travel by bus or car would be an enormous social good, not just for kids and their parents but for the whole community. The knock-on effects would be employment for teachers and other staff, bringing them to our community, increasing our housing values and the cohesiveness of our community. Finally, a high school can often host athletic or cultural activities that are fun for the whole community, regardless of whether one has kids (or grandkids) involved. The Bungendore region is growing, and it does not make sense for parents to have to drive their kids into Canberra or send them on long bus rides. I whole-heartedly support a local high school. In fact, I can't think of any arguments against it!’
(Naomi Ruth Robertson, Wamboin resident)
I also don’t have kids but as a high school student, I also had to travel 1 1/2 hours each way to high school in Queensland. It's tiring and a drain when your peers are doing after school activities, you are travelling. Everything takes longer, and opportunities are missed. It is important for the community to have strong hubs that pull people together, and schools are the best of these.
(Nora Stewart, Wamboin resident)
‘We are way overdue for a public high school in Bungendore. Kids out our way catch a bus at around 6.30am to get to Bungendore and then catch a bus from there onto high school. Then the same in the afternoon. Doesn’t leave much time for anything else. By the time homework and their chores are done, it’s off to bed.’
(Dianne Jones, Mount Fairy resident)
What Parents Are Saying?
‘Nine years ago my husband and I made the decision to build in Bungendore. We were given glowing reports of the local primary school and told, that given the growth of Bungendore, there would need to be a high school built. Nine years on, I now have two children and it is of grave concern to me that there are still no firm plans for one. A high school would mean the difference between staying in a community we love or moving back to Canberra.'
(Cherimoya Violi, Bungendore)
‘It is Bungendore’s strong sense of community that makes us want our children to continue their schooling here and not elsewhere. We believe that our students should be able to attain a higher school education in the community that they are part of, rather than having to commute to schools in other towns. A local education will enable our kids to maintain ties with their friends and the broader community. Less travel will also allow them more time to participate in after school activities, such as music, sport, part-time employment and study.’
(Melissa & Jeremy Masters, Bywong)
‘We have a five year old child who will be facing a daily commute into Canberra, Queanbeyan or Braidwood when she reaches year seven, with our only other option being relocation. We have seen other families do this, while also seeing all the town's local teenagers who live in Bungendore doing the lengthy and exhausting commute. Bungendore's rapidly growing population, mostly made up of young families, warrants a high school, particularly considering the number of children attending the local primary schools in the area. A public high school in Bungendore is well overdue.’
(Ant Schulz, Bungendore)
‘My husband and I moved here with our two boys seeking a better, safer life, with a stronger connection to community and the environment. We knew there wasn’t a local high school, but with jobs in central Canberra we thought we’d drop our boys at an ACT public high school near our work when the time came. The ACT Government has now thrown a huge spanner in that plan with new rules for NSW residents wishing to enrol in ACT public schools. For our community and our children to thrive, we need a local Bungendore high school, and soon!'
(Bronwen Davies, Bungendore)
'My son is currently attending Campbell High. To get to school he catches a bus at 6.40am (from our front gate) and doesn't return home until 5.00pm. For a 13 year old, it's a very long day and it has taken its toll on him. He struggles to do his assignments and homework, they are always rushed. He is usually too tired to really put in the effort that's required which has been expressed to us as a cause of concern by his teachers. It has led us to have some very serious discussions about whether we need to move back to Canberra, especially with the limited options we will have when our youngest goes to high school. We would be very relieved if the proposed Bungendore high school went ahead.’
(Tracey Stuart, Mount Fairy)
‘Would love to send our daughter to a high school in Bungendore if it’s available.’
(Sara Stidworthy, Gundaroo)
‘After school activities such as footy training or gymnastics and social facilities in Bungendore can be used by kids from the whole region instead of them spending an hour plus on the bus ─ a high school would be a massive benefit for the town in general. I am in Carwoola, just near Hoskinstown, so I am closer to Bungendore than Queanbeyan. I have two children that I hope will attend a Bungendore High School.’
(Neil Willis, Carwoola)
'The values of country life are so important to me and I know from experience ─ I have schooled in both country and city schools ─ the social and moral attributes are exponentially in favour of country schooling. All we want is to provide an education to our children that doesn't mean wasted hours on buses to and from the city when they could get quality education here in our own town.'
(Kylie Johnson, Bungendore)
'Eight years ago, we moved from the ACT, drawn by the lovely community that is Bungendore. In that time, we have had two children. Having has friends in this district my while life and hearing of their commute, and now witnessing it as a member of the community, I see the long hours that high school children now have to commute to high school. This is not something that I want my children to endure. My husband and I have agreed that if there was no local high school when the time came, that we would sell up and leave Bungendore to ensure a less stressful high school experience for our children, We would be very disappointed to leave the home that we have built. This matter is very dear and important to the hearts of many parents in the town of Bungendore and nearby areas.'
(Clarinda, Bungendore)
'I have four children, two attending high school and college in the ACT. The changes made by the ACT Education directorate earlier this year was a shock and has had a big impact on my second eldest child. My eldest attended Campbell High School and is now in Year 12 at Gungahlin College. His schooling worked well for him. Because many children in Bungendore attend Campbell, the buses go straight to school without the need to stop at an interchange or change buses. My second eldest is currently at Campbell in Year 10. I wanted to send her to Gungahlin too so she could continue her final years in the ACT schooling system and because I have family in the area. ACT colleges don't keep the traditional 9-3 school hours, which does not fit into bus schedules. Having family in the area meant that my child could go to their home whilst waiting for my husband to collect them on his way home from work in Belconnen. I wrote to the Principal of the college but I was told the sibling rule was only if students attended concurrently. My daughter is now enrolled in one of the 'pathway' schools - Lake Tuggeranong College. How we will logistically support her attending school there for the next two years, I am yet to figure out. Her travel time each day is going to be ridiculous. I am not the only parent with this issue. A high school in Bungendore will be fantastic for when my two much younger children are ready for high school. Being able to live in a town as lovely as Bungendore and have the children attend school closer to home will be life changing for us ─ and many other families.'
(Amber Dzido, Bungendore)
'A high school in Bungendore would create jobs locally, invest money back into the community, add to our infrastructure and support our children's future within our community. Our children build bonds with their peers from an early age. It has been proven that this bond is important in building self-esteem and confidence through to adulthood. For those families that stay locally, our local teenagers are now scattered in small numbers across many high schools outside our community. The process of building these bonds up again has a huge impact when teenagers should be focusing on learning rather than starting again. A high school in Bungendore is an investment back into our community.'
(Phil Harvey, Bungendore)
What the School and Teaching Community Is Saying
'The Sutton Public School Parents and Citizens Association would like to express its support for a high school in Bungendore. The decision of the ACT Government to restrict the access of NSW residents to ACT government schools has impacted our local families. Many families are now looking for their children to attend high school in NSW. A large proportion of our families reside in Wamboin and Bywong associate more closely with Bungendore than with Queanbeyan. They do much of their shopping for groceries and farm supplies in Bungendore, play sport in Bungendore, and many of our children attended pre-school in Bungendore. It would be a natural fit for their children to then attend a high school in Bungendore.'
(Johanna Bradley, President, Sutton Public School P&C 2018)
'Your information and research will not doubt assist families of students at the school to have an alternative option in the future for high school education. It's reassuring that your action group will give the 500 plus students at the school a greater reason to stay local with the 'High School' initiative....We all have a vested interest in the future of our local children, to live and provide a high school education in the area, which will only lead to a stronger and greater community in Bungendore.'
(Nicole Duffy, President, Bungendore Public School P&C 2018)
"The positive flow on effects from a local high school do not just apply to those families with school age children. As an experience High School teacher I have seen how students and teachers use school programs to become socially active, increasing community engagement and breaking down generational barriers. Providing a local High School will enable our children to spend less time on wasted commutes and more time on their holistic education... Students will not only have more time to spend on what is taught inside the classroom but also n meaningful pursuits outside the classroom ─ sport, paid employment, volunteer work ─ all of which are vital to a health and functioning community. Bungendore is a wonderful place to live and raise family Our children deserve to have a school in their own community'
(Melinda Cashman, High School Teacher, Carwoola)
‘I was asked to select some students I would encourage to receive literacy support – from NAPLAN evidence, assessment marks.... I chose some students, and something caught my attention and has been worrying me ever since. They were all ‘out of area’ students [coming from NSW including Bungendore]. I didn’t think much of it at first, but after talking to the students it became very clear that they had never been asked by ‘anyone’ how they felt about travelling so far, every day to and from school. These students were somewhat feeling disadvantaged because they lived so far away.
The students are missing out on valuable learning time because of travel. There seems to be a correlation (in the high school I am at) that learning, whether it be literacy or numeracy of ‘out of area’ students be lower or below the average of students who live in the immediate schooling area. To be honest, for students to travel two hours per day, one can’t deny that their schooling is being hindered – whether that be late assignments or not doing homework.
After talking to the kids, they are tired when they get home!
Obviously, we want the best education for our students/children and providing one closer to our community should take precedence over the need for anything else! The Department doesn’t see the stresses, the anxiety and the expectations that schools place on students regardless of where they live! Teachers don’t give extensions to students that live out of town! These students are disadvantaged.
The need for a closer school is imperative if educational measures and performances are to improve!
For a community to function effectively we need our essential services for all children – this should be the right of any community. Having a school in closer proximity would encourage our sense of community, sense of support for each other and allow our kids to enjoy balance in life. For travel to take up so much time, these kids are not leading a balanced life – two more hours each day for learning life skills, spending time learning to read and write, or merely visiting a neighbour would improve outcomes both from a personal sense but also an educational one.’
(ACT Government High School Teacher)
What Our Business Community Is Saying
'There is a need for a High School locally… A High School in Bungendore would not only support our families and children’s future within our community, but it would also bring economic benefits that support our local businesses. It would create jobs locally and through these jobs and the services the school consumes, invest money back into our community and add to our infrastructure both during the construction and operational phases…A high school will bring people into the community from further surrounds such as Tarago, Captains Flat, Sutton and Gundaroo…The BCCI supports the need for a High School in Bungendore.
(Jeanette Holness, President, Bungendore Chamber of Commerce & Industry 2018)
'After many years there appears to be a real opportunity to realise a dream of a much-needed high school in Bungendore. The BCCI supports the proposed development. A high school will provide a drawcard for businesses to establish in the village and potential business owners to establish family life in the area.'
(Murray Gough, President, Bungendore Chamber of Commerce and Industry, October 2021)
What Former Residents Are Saying
‘I would like to move back to Gundaroo in the next few years to start a family. The need for a high school in Bungendore is a long-term requirement that seems to be getting overlooked. With the anticipated development of Gundaroo, the village itself could see a dramatic population increase over the next couple of years. Further, with the expansion of both Murrumbateman and the Queanbeyan region, residents of not only Gundaroo, but Sutton and Bungendore could find themselves without a secondary school. With limited schooling available in the ACT, Murrumbateman students will fill any remaining places available at Yass High, before Gundaroo students will have the chance. Queanbeyan high schools will undoubtedly accept students from the immediate area before opening its doors to students from Gundaroo and surrounds. Therefore, a high school in Bungendore is essential for the sustainability of secondary education for our community.’
(Frances Reid, former Gundaroo resident)
‘We have recently moved to the Bungendore area for work reasons. We have young children and we'd like to live in the area and help raise our grandchildren here one day. If there is no commitment to a high school in the next five years, I expect we will be forced to leave Bungendore. I love this community.'
(Vivienne Harnett, former Bywong resident, quote from 2015)
Political Support
'It is clear that families want their children to be educated close to home, in their local community. Over the past few months I have been actively searching for a suitable site for the Bungendore High School, and I'm thrilled to announce we have three suitable sites, all accessible and well located. These sites are all privately owned, so further confidential negotiations will continue from here and we will narrow it down and publicly announce the chosen site shortly. We are also looking at the option of creating an education precinct in Bungendore which would mean not just a new high school but added investment to the primary school. Our students will always come first. At the end of the day the site that offers the best outcome for the students and the community will be the selected site.'
(John Barilaro, Former Deputy Premier and our local State Member)
'I am proud that NSW Labor has committed to build a much-needed new public high school in Bungendore. We can see from the evidence that the existing high school network here will struggle to accommodate for all the incoming students. The Bungendore High School Action Group and Labor's Candidate for Monaro Bryce Wilson have presented a compelling case.'
(Jihad Dib, Former Shadow Minister for Education)
'We know there is a great need for a high school in this vibrant community. A high school that will bring great benefits to the local students, parents and the broader community.... As a former science teacher, a proud member of my local P&C, and a person that has worked on the 'Gonski' reforms, I am passionate about education and I am very proud to be supporting this announcement.'
(Bryce Wilson, Former Country Labor for Monaro Candidate)
(Quotes above are part of bi-partisan commitments to build a high school in Bungendore by March 2023)
'I am delighted that we can now announce the site of this new high school which will benefit the community for generations to come. We are working hard to provide unique new schools with modern facilities designed specifically for our communities.'
(Sarah Mitchell, Former NSW Minister for Education and Early Learning, August 2020)
'I'm delighted to see the updated artist impression, and pleased that the Department of Education has worked with the local community taking on board feedback to make positive changes for the Bungendore High School. I will continue to meet with the Minister for Education and the Department of Education to ensure delivery for the project and to achieve the best outcome for our local community.'
(Nichole Overall, Former State Member for Monaro, July 2022)
'I did make a commitment before the election that I would be working to make sure kids got out of demountables as soon as possible and that’s still what I’m trying to achieve.'
(Steve Whan, NSW State Member for Monaro)