Dear Echuca College Student, Parents, Staff and Friends,

It was with great regret that we had to cancel the 2014 Echuca College Celebration Night at the last minute. Although I believe it was the safe option given the weather conditions, I would like to apologise for any inconvenience that this decision has caused. I would also like to apologise to our students who were receiving awards and to their parents for the lost opportunity of seeing their student accept their award in front of the College community. In particular I would like to apologise to our Dux for 2014, Bryce Robertson and to our Year 12 students graduating from the College this year.

We will be holding a special assembly for our Year 12s on Thursday at 10.15am in the Year 12 Neighbourhood and inviting our Dux Bryce Robertson to make his speech to his peers and College staff, parents are welcome to attend.

The background to the decision to hold the Celebration Night in the piazza area came as a result of the declining condition of the College stadium. The College has battled for the last few years with DEECD and the government to have the roof and the floor of the stadium repaired/replaced. During the recent state elections politicians visited the College and were directed to the stadium in an endeavour to get support for these much needed repairs. The campaign to get the stadium improved has been continuous and even this morning more emails were sent to the Department of Infrastructure at DEECD, outlining our concern that due to the condition of the stadium our Celebration Night had to be held outside.

The late decision to cancel the evening’s event came when damaging winds blew various pieces of heavy equipment off the stage knocking over large speakers and other items into where the audience would have been sitting in an hours’ time. Given that many staff members, students and contactors have spent weeks preparing for this evening, the decision was a hard one and not taken lightly. At this stage of the year we can’t reschedule an evening such as our Celebration Night and although we are very upset that we have not been able to acknowledge every student receiving an award tonight; the safety of students, parents, guests and staff is of the utmost importance.

In closing, I would like to congratulate our award winners, wish our year 12s all the best for the future and also congratulate those students not acknowledged with an award but who did their personal best in their studies this year.

Chris Eeles

Principal