Parent's Day at Frensham on December 10 witnessed something never before seen at this unique and widely-respected boarding school for girls in Mittagong.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Parents arriving at Frensham to join their daughters for end of year celebrations must have found it confronting to see Southern Highlands locals standing on public land in front of the school gates holding signs and handing out information flyers in protest against Frensham's controversial plan to build eight "Eco Cabins" and a multi-purpose hall, plus attendant services, in school bushland known as the Lower Holt.
When the 249 trees to be felled for the project are gone, there will be little or no bushland left.
READ ALSO:
The notion of giving students a "bush experience" only a few hundred metres from Frensham's own comfortable boarding houses, classrooms and dining room, is seen by thousands of ex-students, ex-staff, friends of the school, and Southern Highlands locals as a misguided nonsense.
Over 2500 people have signed a petition calling for this planned building development to be moved to already cleared land on the school's property.
Over many years, local woman Jenny Simons has been active in protection of the local Southern Highlands environment, with special commitment to Bushcare and Australian native plants.
As a grandmother of a recent Frensham student, Ms Simons said "I value the environmental education my grand-daughter received at Frensham but I fear this will be denied to future students".
"It is shocking to think that they might be witnessing the destruction of the school's precious bushland."
Maree Tynan, a resident of Waverley Parade for the past thirty seven years, said "Frensham will destroy their social licence if they proceed with clearing this bushland".
"Schools in particular, need to show their students that they are standing up for sustainable practices and protection of our fast-disappearing environmental assets".
Ex Frensham student, Rowena Parry, also expressed her feelings about the building of Bush Cabins on undisturbed and wildlife inhabited land at Frensham.
"In the centre of the School is a courtyard dedicated to St Francis, Patron Saint of Ecology," she said.
"With St Francis in mind, I always took the School's motto of, 'In love serve one another', to encompass our responsibilities to the non- human world as well as the human.
"The plan to destroy this forest, home to so many of our fellow lives, feels like a betrayal of the very core of Frensham's values and history.
"The plan saddens and disappoints me.
"I hope Frensham reconsiders it and takes a stance to be defenders, not destroyers, of our precious and lovely natural world".
Frensham has taken Wingecarribee Shire Council to the Land and Environment Court in order to try to gain permission to fell 249 trees and build their "Bush Cabins".
The school postponed the hearing in October 2021 and a new date has been is scheduled in March, 2022.
Did you know the Southern Highland News is now offering breaking news alerts and a weekly email newsletter? Keep up-to-date with all the local news: sign up below.
