Region directs further talks on school chaplain issue

Written by PHILIP NOLAN.

WANGARATTA High School’s stance on not appointing a full time chaplain for its 1400 plus students may well be reversed.

This follows confirmation yesterday from the Department of Education regional headquarters at Benalla that the issue would be discussed early next week with members of the school council.

And the department also confirmed another change in the principal’s role, with acting principal of the first two terms of the current school year, Rex Pirie, taking sick leave for the remainder of the current term.

Mr Pirie, who was appointed acting principal to replace Judy Rose when she moved to regional headquarters, will be replaced as acting principal by Debbie Moore, one of the three existing assistant principals.

The latest change in the principal’s role comes at a critical stage for the school, which is mid-way through the first stage of a complete re-development program.

The school is one of the biggest state secondary schools in the state, with 1406 students spread over three campuses. As well as the re-development, it is also working to integrate a new tertiary education college being run at Goulburn Ovens TAFE.

The chaplaincy issue was raised last week by the chairman of the school’s chaplaincy committee, Rev Alan Akers, who said he was "mystified and bewildered" by the school’s decision not to replace its full time chaplain after his resignation at the end of term one.

Rev Akers said that it appeared the school was "walking away from its Christian values", and the chaplaincy committee, a volunteer band of fund-raisers who support the program, were “very disappointed” at the situation.

Acting principal at the time, Mr Pirie, said the school had in fact advertised for a replacement but had not found anyone suitable, and that any appointment had now been put on hold until a permanent principal was appointed next year.

The latest development comes as two other local clergy members also expressed their disappointment at the school’s stance.

Anglican priest Father Michael O’Brien said he was "very surprised" the school had not been able to find a suitable applicant.

"It has worked very well at the Wangaratta High School - and I’ve had a lot of people tell me they have been very appreciative of the chaplaincy. That comes from people who go to church and those who don’t," he said.

"It’s not the work of a counsellor or a psychologist and hopefully it comes before that.