The event garnered widespread support, with local businesses displaying posters, and the event found backing from Paul Wickham Pharmacy, which rented the town hall for the occasion.
The meeting drew about 80 attendees, including residents, business owners and Rotary and church members, showcasing the solidarity driving Mooroopna community’s requests.
At the forefront of their concerns is the persistent call to reopen Mooroopna High School, a demand fuelled by a petition to Victorian parliament.
Despite substantial community backing from various groups, the College of Mooroopna Learning (known as COOL) campaign faced setbacks attributed to a perceived “lag in the political process”.
However, Mooroopna residents refused to accept that as a defeat.
Dr Lea Campbell, the driving force behind this initiative and spokesperson for COOL, led discussions on matters vital to the community’s wellbeing.
Endorsement from the Goulburn Valley Trades and Labour Council further bolstered the COOL movement on February 2, underlining the importance of grassroots efforts.
The agenda spanned issues such as drainage problems, the flats, floods and adequate signage, alongside discussions on initiatives that could benefit the community in the long run.
The community’s determination to reclaim the town’s high school prompted introspection.
Dr Campbell succinctly captured the community’s sentiment.
“Mooroopna’s community clearly expressed its wish to have its high school back,” she said.
“If we can’t get political representation to get our high school back, then there’s something fundamentally wrong with the process.”
Dr Campbell emphasised that the closure of Mooroopna Secondary College, a pivotal educational hub catering to almost 1000 students annually, underscored the critical need for a vibrant school in small towns.
The integration with Greater Shepparton Secondary School, according to local residents, profoundly affected Mooroopna’s community, necessitating a revaluation of priorities.
In a December revelation, Mooroopna residents were officially notified that the former high school premises had been leased to Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-Operative, presenting potential obstacles should the high school reopen.
According to Dr Campbell, a high school not only represented “an incredible opportunity to attract families but also serves as a vital hub of employment, drawing in teachers and staff, thereby acting as a source of economic stimulus for the whole community”.
Residents held meetings in January and February to prepare for a determining event for their community: the upcoming Inquiry into the State Education System in Victoria hearings, which will be held in Shepparton on April 17.
Residents have submitted their applications to speak on the day and are awaiting confirmation.
The community has high expectations for the inquiry’s outcome, with a town meeting set for the same day to discuss its findings.
Mooroopna residents welcomed new requirements under the Local Government Act 2020, which will see Greater Shepparton City Council adopt a ward-based system, divided into nine dedicated wards, as they believed it would allow for “a fairer representation of their town”.
Recognising the urgency for representation that aligns with their needs, residents also decided to take matters into their own hands, considering standing for council.
Discussions are under way to select representatives for the upcoming council elections, ensuring that voices echoing genuine care for the community will resonate strongly.
Beyond the high school predicament, Mooroopna’s momentum now extends to pressing issues such as changing KidsTown’s postcode to reflect its geographical location, establishing a farmers’ market and transforming the wetlands into a tourist attraction for a thriving visitor economy.
Residents also intend to apply for grants to develop Mooroopna collectively.
Dr Campbell summed up the spirit of the movement.
“A lot of goodwill can lead to action,” she said.
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