Stables project to be win-win outcome for school and community

An Adopt a School partnership between Naracoorte High School and the town’s Pastoral and Agricultural Society will result in the restoration of stable accommodation for 70 dressage and event horses.

Driven by the school’s year 11 pre-vocational students, the project is giving students another experience outside the classroom and improving a facility that already attracts national competitors.

Naracoorte High School teacher, Mike Engberg, says the project will involve a variety of tasks from guttering and plastering to pointing stone. He hopes the participating students will gain pride in their community, while gaining new skills through working in a hands-on environment with local tradespeople. ‘The students will get an appreciation of what our community is all about and this will give them choices to help them become more rounded people.’

The 10 students involved in stage one of the project are enthusiastic about the work, which has seen them already milling the dense pink gum timber they need to make 13 identical stable doors. ‘In 10 years time they will take their kids to the Naracoorte Showgrounds and will be able to say “I had a hand in refurbishing that”,’ Mike said.

Margie Stuart, treasurer for the Pastoral and Agricultural Society and convenor of horse events for the Naracoorte Show, says the project will give students experience in a range of areas from logistics, publicity and logo work though to heritage construction.

She has met with the participating students and is excited about watching them develop a community identity through the project. She says they are enthusiastic and genuinely interested in the work, and she hopes ‘they get a sense of belonging to this community’.

According to Margie, the project involves high quality, painstaking work that will not be rushed. The Pastoral and Agricultural Society is funding the restoration, which may span over five years.