District schools unite in wake of destructive Ararat West Primary fire

District principals are planning to help replenish the stationery supplies of the fire-ravaged school by accepting donations from members of their respective school communities. 

Halls Gap Primary School principal Ja-San Trimble said a former leader at Ararat West Primary had sent out an email to district schools suggesting the charitable initiative. 

“It said one way we could all help was to build up a stationary supply and send them through to the school,” she said.

“So want to let our parents and school community know that if they have any stationary they would like to donate or if they are at the supermarket and feeling charitable to donate these items.

“It is a big ask on a school for this to happen at this time of year – there is a lot going on and school budgets’ are running thin.”

Stawell Secondary College had already donated 25 fitted miniature laptops to Ararat West Primary School. 

College principal Nick Lynch said Ararat West Primary School were experiencing a dark time.

“I really feel for the Grade Sixes,” he said.

“They are supposed to be graduating soon – it will be really difficult time during their graduation.

“The fire was an unfortunate event and we wish the school our best in moving forward from the circumstances that took place on the weekend.”

Principal at Pomonal and Moyston primary schools Anthony Caine said all proceeds from an upcoming annual community dinner raffle would also go towards Ararat West Primary. 

Up to 150 pupils affected by the damage will now spend this week taking classes at Ararat College until contractors from the Education Department conduct all appropriate safety checks.

Plumbers and electricians will also be required to reinstate services to the school.

In a statement District 16 CFA operations manager Bernie Fradd said about 50 firefighters including some from Ballarat City took part in the effort to contain the fire. 

“The brigades did an excellent job ensuring the fire did not spread beyond the wing involved,” Mr Fradd said.

“Ambulance Victoria was in attendance for health monitoring due to the fairly intense nature of the firefight.

“Ararat Fire Brigade will be on scene until lunch time today mopping up.”

The cause of the fire is yet to be determined.  

Ararat Rural City Council has offered support to Ararat West Primary School in the wake of Saturday morning’s devastating fire.

Council staff have been in contact with Ararat West’s principal Terry Keilar throughout the week to provide what resources it can to support staff and students.

Ararat Rural City mayor Glenda McLean said help began immediately on Saturday morning when Council provided equipment at the scene of the fire.

“We supplied two water tankers from our works depot to assist the CFA with bringing the blaze under control on Saturday morning,” Cr McLean said.

“Our Municipal Building and Surveying staff visited the site earlier in the week and have been liaising with the various departments during the clean-up phase.

“We want to assist where ever we can to make the process easy for Ararat West and help get the school back on site and back to as normal operation as possible.”

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Ararat West Primary School principal, Terry Keilar said Ararat Rural City had also assisted with traffic management and the establishment of a temporary school crossing at Ararat College.

“The outpouring of support from the Ararat and surrounding community has been overwhelming and council is certainly included in that,” he said.

“Particularly council’s offer to use of the Community Bus at no charge so we can get students from the College to Ararat 800 Primary School for after school care services has been a big help.

“We look forward to continuing to work with Council in the coming weeks and months as the recovery work progresses.”

Mr Keilar said the Ararat West pupils were settling in well at Ararat College.

“We’re very thankful to community,” he said.

“Ararat College has gone above and beyond, given us a space of our own and an area for staff, changed their whole timetable for us, lent us students to show the younger pupils around.”

Mr Keilar said the community could find further updates and fundraising by keeping an eye on Ararat West Primary’s Facebook page.