More than 1000 signatures on Mooroopna high school petition

By Max Stainkamph

Sep 19, 2022

Bring it back: More than 1000 people have signed a petition calling for the opening of a high school in Mooroopna. Photo by Megan Fisher

A petition calling for the reopening of a high school in Mooroopna has received more than 1000 signatures before it is set to be tabled in Victorian Parliament.

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The petition closed days after the Victorian Opposition announced it would begin consultation on where to place a second public secondary school in Greater Shepparton if it won government in November.

A group of Mooroopna business owners, service clubs, educators and residents have united under the banner of COOL: College of Mooroopna Learning to advocate for the reopening of the Mooroona Secondary College as a “matter of urgency”.

It proposes a school that services 900 students from years 7 to 12, “offering well-rounded education with a rich, innovative curriculum” and that is “diverse in student and staff population”.

The group collected 1047 signatures for the petition, which will be tabled in Parliament by state Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell.

COOL is calling for a commitment from the Department of Education and Training that it will meet the community and that it won’t repurpose the site.

The group also called on more people to raise their voice to join the campaign, while local candidates for the state election have been invited to meet with community members on Thursday, October 13 from 5pm at the Mooroopna Education and Activity Centre.

"We will work collaboratively with surrounding towns to support their needs whilst inclusively designing Mooroopna’s new school so a cohesive community response prevails,” the group said.