MARCH 2017 | David Claridge

ON A CLOUDY Saturday in the sleepy little town of Meander there were two gatherings at the closed down Meander Primary School.

One gathering was to celebrate its eventual reopening after two years. Teen Challenge, the soon to be new operators of the school were holding a concert and bbq to thank the locals for their support. The smell of bbq was in the air with children running around having fun, and people dancing in celebration.

A number of police were on scene for a while to ensure that everyone was conducting themselves appropriately, tensions over this situation have been palpable for many months now.

Teen Challenge Tasmania Director, Peter Ferrall and Executive Director, Tanya Cavanagh, were pleased with the turn out.

“This music day is a big thank you to the community for their support, we’re celebrating getting to this point.” Mrs Cavanagh expressed.

In the paddock next door there was a different gathering - a peaceful protest, held by the Meander Area Residents and Ratepayers Inc, MARRA - for Meander residents to voice their concerns over Teen Challenge moving in and the processes behind their takeover of the school.  Around 80 people stopped at the site over the first few hours.

President of MARRA, Bodhi McSweeney explained that they would like to see the town grow as everyone does, but that the school should remain in public hands.

“We’re not happy with the proposed use of the school next door. We would like to see it used for a better purpose than this drug rehabilitation centre, a purpose that will grow our community,” Ms McSweeney said.

“We are protesting because the school was handed over to this group with no consultation. There was a survey conducted where only 36% of people thought that it would be a good idea for Teen Challenge to use the school, but the council voted before the results of the survey were tabled at the MVC council meeting in May last year.”

Locals in support of Teen Challenge helped to organise the event and volunteered to prepare food, desserts, as well as stand on the road and direct traffic.  It is understood that security guards were also hired to attend the event.

“We’ve submitted all of our planning and building applications to the council. Depending on the processes after that we expect to be open this year,” Mrs Cavanagh said.

Wooden signs with hand painted messages in protest of Teen Challenge’s move into Meander were attached to the fence line beside the school.

“MARRA has organised an alternative proposal for how we would prefer to see the school used,” informed Ms McSweeney.

Members of the group played their own music while more signs were made for each member of MARRA.

Photo | Mike Moores