Our Lady Queen of Peace Primary celebrate the opening and blessing of their BER spaces

(left) Michael Hopley, Very Rev Peter Williams VG EV, Dr John DeCourcy and The Hon Chris Bowen MP

$3.2 million was provided to the Our Lady Queen of Peace Primary under the Australian Government's BER program

An opening and blessing ceremony was held on Friday 19 October at Our Lady Queen of Peace Primary, Greystanes to officially open their $3.2 million newly constructed and refurbished classrooms funded by the Australian Government’s Building the Education Revolution (BER) program.

Representing Bishop Anthony Fisher OP, the spaces were blessed by Vicar General, Very Rev Peter Williams VG EV and officially opened by Federal Member for McMahon and Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Bowen MP, and Dr John DeCourcy representing the executive director of schools, Greg Whitby.

Our Lady Queen of Peace parish priest, Fr Robert Bossini welcomed the school and parish community as well as special guests including State Member for Granville, Tony Issa MP, Mayor of Holroyd City Council, Ross Grove, former principal Danuta Maka, Charles Glanville from Thomson Addsett Architects, representatives from Quasar Constructions as well as principals from neighbouring Catholic schools.

In blessing the new and refurbished spaces, Fr Peter reminded students of the strong foundations of their learning.

‘In Catholic schools, no matter how nice the surroundings of where we learn are, what is most important is that the foundation of our lives is Jesus Christ,’ said Fr Peter. ‘We do that by following Jesus’ teaching and particularly, and most importantly, by the way we treat one another.’

‘The importance of today is about you, who you become and what you achieve in this school,’ he said.

Dr John DeCourcy thanked the Australian Government for their investment in education and reminded students of the gift of Catholic education.

‘Catholic education is a great gift – one shared by you and generations of students,’ said John. ‘These wonderful facilities provide for a special kind of learning that is relevant in today’s world - engaging, personalised, collaborative and most of all Christ-centred.’

Minister Chris Bowen said the Australian Government was committed to investing in education.

‘I have seen lots of classrooms and the classrooms you have here at Our Lady Queen of Peace are very, very special and they are equal to the best you will see anywhere in the world,’ Chris Bowen said. ‘The BER is an investment in our future and we want to make the most of your education.’

Our Lady Queen of Peace principal, Michael Hopley, said the students were at the centre of all improvements at the school.

‘The essence of what these buildings represent to us, is a real change in the way we think, the way we teach and the way we learn,’ said Michael. ‘You, the students, are the reason why are we are all here and you teach us as well. The only reason that we change what we do is because of what we learn from you.’

The opening and blessing ceremony was followed by morning tea attended by parishioners, parents and special guests.

‘The importance of today is about you, who you become and what you achieve in this school,’ Fr Peter told the students

Principal, Michael Hopley, said the students were at the centre of all improvements at the school

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