Newman Senior Technical College celebrated the completion their new buildings and additions with the Official Opening with a plaque unveiling by The Hon. Luke Hartsuyker MP – Federal Member for Cowper on behalf of Senator Birmingham with Father Leo Donnelly and Father Peter Wood delivering the Rite of Blessing.
These new buildings and extensions Newman College building project provides new facilities to meet the increasing student and subsequent staff numbers. Additional facilities include more general learning areas, and increased staff room, counselling, and canteen spaces with the most significant area of expansion, being the development of a contemporary training café named “The Food Project and an additional cutting edge, commercial kitchen.
This projects was jointly funded by the Australian Government under the Capital Grants Program and The Trustees of the Roman Catholic Church Diocese of Lismore.
In Luke Hartsuyker’s address to the students of Newman College he applauded their choice in Vocational Education stating “You have made the right choice. You have made the right choice. That in the 21st Century, If you have a trade and you have a skill, you will be in demand! – the world is your oyster.”
It was 10 years ago that then Prime Minister John Howard officially opened the College on this site as the Australian Technical College based on the model initially developed as St Joseph’s Vocational College back in 1979. In 2009 the College was renamed Newman Senior Technical College and has seen continual growth and recognition as a leader in Vocational Education that provides young people with practical skills to access employment and/or further training.
Principal, Stephen Pares commented ” Today’s official opening recognises the collaborative efforts of a great team of people who support and sustain this remarkable facility. From the Government, the Lismore Diocese, St Agnes’ Parish , our staff, students and the community. I am privileged to work with them and extremely proud of our achievements to date. I will continue to seek the best education delivery methods when it comes to providing a relevant and meaningful education for the young people of our community.”
The Blessing and unveiling of the commemorative plaque was followed by live music and refreshments in the College Cafe – The Food Project, provided by Newman College Students.