Fairhills High School principal Harvey Wood with students and Rock Eisteddfod participants Cheree, Kelly, Sharleen, Melinda, Lucy, producer Anita Chipman, Kelly, and Carly.By Shaun Inguanzo
A $2 MILLION stadium to enhance basketball in Knox will also allow young performers to flourish in the arts.
Fairhills High School in Knoxfield will become the site of a twocourt basketball stadium to be jointly funded and used by the school and the Knox Basketball Association (KBA).
Fairhills High School principal Harvey Wood said the school was a “very strong” sporting institution, but also had an excellent record in performing arts.
The school’s performing arts achievements were capped off just weeks ago with victory in the Rock Eisteddfod Challenge’s State Premier Division.
More than 100 Fairhills students took part in the national event with a final performance at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena.
The school has been in the challenge for the last 10 years, and ran a close second in the Premier Division in 2004.
Mr Wood said the school’s strength in performing arts meant it would transform its existing, singlecourt multipurpose hall into a 250seat theatre once the new facility was built.
Mr Wood said the school currently had to share its existing facility with both drama classes and physical education classes carried out simultaneously.
Meanwhile, the State Government has announced it will contribute $1 million to the new stadium.
Education services minister Jacinta Allan announced last week that funds would be made available through the $30 million Community Facilities Fund, purposely made for schools to enhance or build facilities that can be used also by the wider community.
KBA CEO Laurie Joyce welcomed the new stadium and said the school and KBA would cover the remaining $1 million required to fund the stadium.
Mr Joyce said the KBA would have exclusive use of the stadium out of school hours.
He said the announcement was “huge” for basketball in Knox, with player numbers bursting at the seams at the KBA’s Boronia stadium.
“In terms of junior numbers we are larger than ever before.
“We are 50 teams up on where we were two seasons ago.
“What that means in terms of competition and training is extra games every week and 25 hours’ extra training each week, so having two extra courts will be tremendous for the game.”
Mr Joyce added that the KBA hoped to implement a basketball program in Fairhills to further strengthen their relationship.
