A LAST minute intervention by Premier Campbell Newman has given the small community of Yaraka the news it was hoping to hear – that its disused school building won’t be put up for auction this weekend.
Ever since its closure due to lack of numbers in 2009, the Yaraka Progress Association has lobbied for the building to be retained in the community.
“When it was placed on an excess land register in 2012, the Department of Natural Resources, which took it over, approached bodies such as council but they said it wasn’t part of their core business,” said president Susan Glasson.
“I thought we’d be next in line but that wasn’t the case, and then the auction sign went up.”
Susan had almost given up hope of winning the David versus Goliath battle before the July 19 auction date so the news last week that the Premier was giving the building to the Yaraka Progress Association was a great relief.
A last ditch effort was made by Member for Gregory Vaughan Johnson, who described the Premier’s decision as “a good win for the folk of Yaraka”.
“It was perseverance and a good case that won it for them, and a lot of people should go and see what a great little community it is.”
The group is now continuing with an idea to work with the Department of Education to turn the building into an education centre for the community, hosting distance education and adult education outreach facilities and possibly a paraprofessional.
When questioned about the need for such a building when the town already had a community hall, Susan said the latter was a multi-purpose centre and use of it would have to be restricted outside the hours of 9am and 3pm if plans for continuing education needs came to be.
“There would be issues with electricity and phone accounts and security of equipment,” she said.
“We see the school building as possibly hosting temporary accommodation as well.”
It’s not the first time Yaraka has had to deal with the possible loss of its school building.
Ironically, the original building was removed in the 1950s after the school closed down, only for numbers to build up in the 1960s, leading to construction of the current building in 1966.
“I’d like to think there’s potential for population growth here again, so we’ve got something to work towards now,” said Susan.