Thursday, 28 August 2025

Mirboo North school gymnasium

Tom McINTOSH (Eastern Victoria) (09:49): I would like to use my members statement this week to talk about Mirboo North. Mirboo North is a great town. I stay in the pub often, when I can, when I am passing through. I did footy tipping there last year, but I was about as successful as Collingwood were, President, which I am sure you can appreciate with me.

I visited the primary school and the secondary college, and I was enthusiastically met by the primary school student leaders and secondary school student leaders. We sat down and we talked broadly about things, but when we focused they really wanted to talk about the gymnasium. The gymnasium has been used, loved and cherished by the school and the town for decades. It is used for basketball, for netball, for badminton, for community fitness, for a variety of things – people get in there and use it. The gymnasium is in need of some love.

In talking more broadly with the community, I have heard and can see clearly the absolute passion and the buy-in around the town to get the gymnasium upgraded. Look, it takes time, but I am absolutely committed to working with the school and with the students. I just have to say again, I sat down with the year 12s afterwards, and they showed maturity and passion when they spoke about what this means to them and the town more broadly. I just walked out of there knowing that this is something that we have got to work on. Things can take time, but I just want everyone in Mirboo North to know that I am really committed to walking alongside them on working towards getting the gym funded for generations to come.