Parent told Devenish Primary will accept enrolments and employ staff

By Simon Ruppert

Feb 14, 2023

Community action: Members of the Devenish community with State Member for Ovens Valley Tim McCurdy at the school in late 2022. Photo by Simon Ruppert

Young students in Devenish will be able to attend their school after parents were told enrolments would be completed and a staff found.

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At least that is the hope of Jenny Binion, whose daughter Lilly is already enrolled.

While she told The Ensign she had been given this information, she is holding off her celebrations until the door swings open and classes begin.

While stopping short of confirming the school would remain open, a Victorian Education Department spokesperson said it was discussing enrolment options with interested parents.

Ms Binion said she had joined parents hoping to have their children enrolled in Wodonga on Wednesday, February 8.

“We went to the Education Department there to ask them to enrol the other four students,” Ms Binion said.

“However, we were met with a locked door and couldn’t speak to anyone. We had invited ABC news, so we did another interview with them.

“Then about an hour later I got a phone call from the Education Department.

“They said a lady was coming up from Melbourne who wanted to meet with us on the Friday (February 10).”

At that meeting she said the group of parents were told that enrolments would be accepted.

“So now we have five viable students and we were told staff would be employed to open the school,” she said.

“So that’s fantastic. We’ve told the kids and they’re all very excited.

“Hopefully the school will be open in a couple of weeks.

“I’d like to thank everyone who has helped. Thank you to The Ensign and all the media that has supported us. Thank you to Annabelle Cleeland and Tim McCurdy.

“We are very grateful for helping us get here.”