It was hailed a fantastic outcome for our region and is an incredible facility.

Unfortunately, I felt a division between joy and sadness on that first day and have every day since.

The school was always meant to include the students from Echuca Specialist School.  I felt it was a betrayal to them, their parents and the staff at ESS to fully embrace the new campus knowing the appalling conditions they’d been left in. Knowing whilst my children were enjoying the best education 2018 could provide them other students in our town were being exposed to third world conditions just to get an education.

My eldest daughter was part of the initial student planning committee back in 2015 when she was at Echuca South and is still dumbfounded that the inclusion this was meant to embrace has been overlooked for the sake of politics.

From the beginning the students discussed the benefits of inclusion for all students.

If a child in grade six at the time could understand that, why are our politicians finding it such a challenge?

And then today (16th July, 2018), James Merlino finally graced Echuca Specialist School with his presence almost seventy days after the initial request for him to do so was made. His visit was kept under the radar until the last moment, the reason for which was made clear as soon as his announcement was made.

The “if we get elected” promise, made in a safe National seat, so many of us expected would have opened up far too many questions should the public have been present. Questions Mr Merlino clearly did not want to answer.  So instead, like he has done for so long now, he avoided them.

But at least now we are at a point where both sides of politics have committed to the funding required for stage two of Twin Rivers.

When I again explain this to my children on their arrival home on Monday, two of whom are in grade three, they will still want an explanation as to why he couldn’t have committed to that in the last budget.

They will want to know why their peers at another school -  peers they have done inclusion activities with for the past three years - were not worthy of the same benefits they have been afforded.

Nine year olds understand this, it’s time for our politicians to catch up!

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I see council is on the verge of revamping the mall, yet again! I wonder if, this time, they will take a number of factors into their consideration.  Maybe even ask people what the shoppers (not just the business owners) would like to have in their mall.

Safety seems to spring to mind. A bit more of a police presence, to control the attitudes of a few groups.

Next, the paving needs to be “elderly friendly” to avoid trip hazards.

Shade,  that was an after thought last time!

Bring back the rotunda, it was a hub for entertaining and announcements.

The seating is atrocious! Cold and not very inviting.

These are just a few points. I am sure if council in their wisdom asked the ratepayers they would get a huge response, and maybe this would prevent wasting  money, like the last upgrade. Just a thought!

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