This morning I enjoyed the opportunity to celebrate the official opening of the Year 5/6 Centre at Donnybrook at the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. I shared with the audience my thoughts on the building, but also what it meant to be a growing school. I have included in this week’s newsletter my address. I hope you find it interesting.

“On 22 April 2021, just over a year ago, we gathered here in much the same location for a sod turn ceremony to launch the construction of this, the Year 5/6 Centre. Then, as we are now, are honoured by the presence of the Member for Yan Yean, Ms Danielle Green MP, a most welcome guest and friend of Hume Anglican Grammar.

Thirteen months ago, we stood on dirt at what was then the beginnings of a construction site. Now we gather in this splendid building and also look out over a wonderful playground and synthetic playing field. You cannot feel anything but awe at this magnificent achievement.

But building buildings is not new to Hume, in fact constructing new and exciting school facilities is rather the norm. But why do we build, why do we grow? Well, growth brings opportunity, and I think the opportunity created can be found in three areas.

Opportunity for families, those who seek a high-quality, affordable, values-based education. When we gathered here in April last year the school enrolled 1,640 students, today the student enrolment stands at 1,972 - an overall increase of 332 students. Of note, this year 236 Prep students commenced school, plus an additional 64 Year 7s, along with another 141 students at other year levels. In all, 441 new students have joined our School in 2022.

Growth brings opportunity to the students as it allows a greater breadth of curriculum, room to explore, and space to develop ideas, more innovative and contemporary approaches to teaching and learning, greater range of co-curricular offerings, and more prospects for our young people to serve and to lead.

Finally, growth builds community. In 2019, when the Donnybrook campus opened with its one building, 120 students and 10 staff, its local community consisted of some curious cows, overly friendly kangaroos, and a collection of other interested wildlife. Today, it is a thriving community with some thousands of people and hundreds of homes here in the Olivine estate - interestingly 53 of those homes have families of 59 Donnybrook students. We are proud to be part of the local community, we enjoy the partnership, we love contributing to its energy, and we relish that the community is embedded within school life.

Earlier, I described one of the characteristics of our school as affordable, and there are many reasons why a Hume education remains in reach of so many families, sometimes to those who may not be in a position to consider an independent school education. One of those reasons is the vital financial support the School receives from the government. It allows us to undertake major projects such as this one, noting that the State Capital Fund provided a five-million-dollar grant towards its construction, a substantial and crucial contribution. For this, we are most grateful.

As a relatively new and growing school, we have a history of receiving support from others, and right now very close by, the Visual Arts Centre is under construction. And like so many projects at both the Donnybrook and Mt Ridley campuses, has received welcome government assistance. All this goes to make Hume more accessible and provide those in the community something we all cherish, availability of choice.”

Bill Sweeney - Principal