The official Opening and Blessing of the new Learning Centre at Borinya Wangaratta Community Partnership took place in Wangaratta on Thursday 27 October.

 

Aboriginal Elder, Uncle Dozer performed the Welcome to Country and Bishop Shane MacKinlay blessed and opened the new facilities. The Chair of the Advisory Council Danny, O'Donoghue spoke about the rich history of Borinya school which commenced in 2009.

 

Chief Executive Office of Catholic Education Sandhurst, Mr Paul Desmond congratulated the staff, students and the wider community, both past and present as well as acknowledging the most important resources in our nation, the young people who shape our future, and the teachers who inspire, animate, encourage and educate these young people.

 

Principal of Borinya, Genevieve O'Reilly said it was an honour to gather with the community and supporters of Borinya Wangaratta Community Partnership to celebrate and bless the new building.

 

"Some of you will remember that Borinya commenced about thirteen years ago with one building and not much else. This was due in no small part to the vision of previous Directors of Catholic Education Sandhurst, Mr Denis Higgins and Ms Phil Billington, as well as founding Principal, Trish Merlo. I acknowledge and pay my respects to these people on whose shoulders we stand," she said.

 

"At Borinya we embrace St Mary of the Cross MacKillop by always trying to live her mantra of never seeing a need without doing something about it. Similar to St Mary, Borinya works with those young people who cannot thrive in a more mainstream environment."

 

"Our name ‘Borinya’, a Pangerang word meaning anabranch*, exemplifies our ambition to provide shelter, rest and recovery. We do this through our shared values of being courageous, resilient, inclusive and curious."

 

Our new Learning Centre has invited us to share safe, comfortable and inclusive spaces. It signals to our community that we are serious about the work we do, and that we value you. The opening of this new building marks a significant new chapter in our story and we invite you to walk with us."

 

*An anabranch is a stream of water that leaves a river and re-enters it further along its course. This is exactly what this group of students is doing. 

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