Rally for Swinburne

AN ESTIMATED 180 people rallied at Swinburne University in Lilydale on Monday, calling on the State Government and Swinburne University to keep tertiary education alive in the outer east.
Speakers included president of the Swinburne Student Union Mark Briers, Yarra Ranges Deputy Mayor Cr Jeanette McRae and Australian Education Union President Mary Bluett.
There was obvious dissatisfaction at the manner in which the announcement of the closure of Swinburne’s Lilydale Campus was delivered, but the mood among the students and staff was more about lobbying the powers that be to take responsibility for the closure and turn it around.
Mr Briers said a petition had been drawn up calling on the government to reinstate money into the TAFE system.
“We are aiming for 8000 signatures by 8 August. We still have students away who come back on the 6th, so we believe we will have that support,” he said.
The rally also heard Mr Briers call on Swinburne University to reverse the decision.
Cr McRae said the council’s aim was to get feedback from State Government members on reversing the decision to ensure the education needs of the outer east would be looked at now and in the future.
She told the rally Swinburne was part of the Yarra Ranges community and that the fight was not just about education saying there was so much at stake with the interaction with the tourism industry and other businesses.
Mr Briers told the Mail another rally had been called for 8 August and said there was strong support among the university and the business communities for keeping the campus open.
“This is just the beginning,” he said.
“The battle is definitely not over.”