Edmond Rice College principal Peter McGovern looked at the independent high school’s new multimillion-dollar arts precinct and could not help but be inspired.
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Surrounded by dignitaries at Tuesday’s official opening of Waruga House, the principal was confident students would be suitably inspired.
Waruga, the local indigenous name for the eastern water dragons found in nearby creeks, overlooks the chapel and school.
Once the old monastery, the creative arts hub now features three art classrooms, a pottery room and a gallery space.
It also features refurbished Technological and Applied Studies (TAS) classrooms which house STEM and robotics.
A brand new hospitality kitchen and cafe on the West Wollongong site also opened on Tuesday.
“It is a really exciting time for the school. The school has grown about 35 per cent in the last five years,” Mr McGovern said.
“It is really important that the facilities inspire students. I think when you look behind here, [Waruga] this is incredibly inspiring.
“And creative arts is absolutely one of the key driving skills that students need to have in this day and age.
“In a recent world economic forum they named creativity as one of the key driving skills for work in the next 50 to 60 years.
“We often talk about holistic education. The arts is so important in terms of those soft skills, communicative skills and creative skills where kids can actually express themselves.
“I think it is really at the centrepiece of school education.”
Read more: NSW government’s $1.2m spend at Edmund Rice
This is a view shared by the parliamentary secretary for education, and Kiama MP, Gareth Ward.
The state government chipped in $1.17 million from its Building Grants Assistance Scheme (BGAS) for the new creative arts centre, which cost about $1.7 million to complete.
“I think that creative arts and creative arts education is really important as part of the curriculum,” Mr Ward said.
“I was a weekend student at the Conservatorium of Music here in Wollongong and I understand how important arts education is.
“Clearly the college here has said that arts education is also important to its students and their future to develop a well-rounded student that will leave here well equipped for all the challenges that life will throw at them.”
Mr McGovern thanked the state government for its support.
“Today is a wonderful celebration. The students will be the winners out of this,” he said.
“The school is very lucky to have a facility like this. I’d like to thank the NSW government for their support. We wouldn’t have been able to achieve this without their support.”
Agron Latifi
Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure.
Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure.
