Tenterfield High School student Harry Logan, left, Mayor Peter Petty, Minister for Western NSW Adam Marshall, Matilda Ebbern, School Captain Ella Wishart and Acting Principal Toni Skewes celebrate the funding win.
Tuesday, 12 May 2020
SOCIALS, performances and assemblies at Tenterfield High School are about to be turned up a notch with Minister for Western NSW Adam Marshall today announcing a $136,335 State Government grant to upgrade the sound and lighting equipment in the school hall.
Mr Marshall said the upgrades would help to develop and support Tenterfield’s youth performing arts scene.
“For students growing up in the bush and who have a passion for the arts, aside from school there is very little opportunity for them to get up and perform in front of a crowd,” Mr Marshall said.
“It’s exciting to see Tenterfield High School want to foster and take that love music and theatre to the next level by using this grant to upgrade wiring and technical aspects of the hall to allow a state-of-the-art sound and lighting system to be installed.
“The existing system has served the school community well over many years, however, is no longer able to meet the needs of students who are committed to the creative arts – especially those who are doing music and drama for the HSC.
“The upgrade will also support the school to seek authorisation to offer the VET Entertainment course as part of studies towards the HSC and industry qualifications.
“The wider community will also benefit from having a high quality performance space, with the hall often used as a venue for community festivals and events such as the cracker weekend known as Oracles of the Bush.”
Acting Principal Toni Skewes said the project would open new doors for students interested pursuing a career in the performing arts.
“Tenterfield is the gateway to the North Coast which has a vibrant and thriving arts and music scene,” Mrs Skewes said.
“This would be a great initiative to support employment of local students into the entertainment industry generally and in the many performance-based events that occur across our region.
“Also, each year the successful Winter Music Festival is held in the July school holidays. This event brings music teachers from Brisbane to run workshops for students from all over the North West.
“The final concert is held in the school hall and the upgrades to sound and lighting will greatly enhance the workshops and showcase just what our students can do.
“Given the specialised nature of the equipment used and the work to be done, I expect the project will be take about 12 months to complete, so hopefully we will have it in by June 2021.”