Stories of MECS

The Opening of Ranges TEC

In 2012 we officially opened Ranges TEC. The main campus overflowed with students and their families, those who’d worked so hard to bring about this occasion and a host of dignitaries. As one of the Founding Principals Martin Hanscamp shared some reflections about how it all came about. The following is an abridged version of that short speech he gave at the opening and a second article by Gerry Beimers on the opening event. 

Why would you start a TEC? 

Before you can begin to dream about things you have a sense would be a good idea, you examine your core beliefs. Here’s a few of those foundational beliefs that are relevant to Ranges TEC. 

The Earth is the Lord’s. He made it a diverse creation for some very good reasons. The fantastic built-in variety within the creation means everyone has a particular giftedness, an innate potential to make a worthwhile contribution. 

God made some to be great writers, great mathematicians, sportsman, artists, musicians, craftsman – shapers of wood, metal, machines, chefs, tillers of the earth – gardeners and producers of food... and so on. 

Decent senior vocational education is a basic matter of justice – doing the right thing by students who need to work with their hands - students who learn through doing and making and problem solving. This is a matter of working with the God-made order of things. He made all students different and one educational model does not fit all. 

We often use the three words: head, hearts and hands. Ever since the Greeks started this dualistic thinking that separated the mind off as if our heads could operate in a theoretical void, and removed learning from application and real experience, our educational practice has wrestled with this split problem. Rather than change the model, it’s dismissed these learners as being inadequate. Christian schools understand that you can’t divorce our heads (our conceiving and thinking) from our hearts (our soul searching and our sensing and serving) or from our hands (our making and doing). 

When these beliefs go to the core of what you do, it can not help but cause an educational response.

Early Beginnings

Back in 2004, in response to the beliefs and values listed here and recognising that the singular VCE model didn’t sit well with some students, MECS became the first non-Catholic independent school to offer the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL). We’d already been an active participant in our local Yarra Valley VET cluster. From these small beginnings thoughts of doing something more substantial were germinating. 

Conversations about a joint enterprise in the Ringwood area between Donvale and MECS started in 2006. Into that context came the 2007 federal election. Out of the blue we heard, “a TTC for every Australian secondary school”. The government recognised a trades crisis and was responding with a hugely ambitious program. Timing could not have been better, and we thought ‘it’s the early bird who catches the worm’. We’d already undertaken some shared thinking, so a cooperative submission wasn’t that difficult to generate. 

A possible Trade Training Centre

Whilst working on the submission we soon realised we’d bitten off more than we could chew and we needed further help. We turned to our sister school Mountain District to see if they’d join the program. This significantly enhanced the reach for students, the breadth of trades to offer and the pool of funds we could apply for. 

Committees were set up to address: What sort of trades would we offer? What’s a distinctive Christian approach? What sort of facility would we need? What would it all cost? Who were we targeting? Our initial application was knocked back but we were encouraged to not give up. 

Delegations were sent off to Canberra to work through the maze of bureaucratic compliance. We got an exemption from having to have the facility on a school’s site. We were different than most proposals and this caused delays as they didn’t have a rule book for a ‘stand alone’ Christian TTC. Even though we didn’t always appreciate the federal department’s bureaucratic hurdles and ‘shifting sands’ we did appreciate a government and public service committed to realising this most ambitious program. 

Success – here’s $4 million for construction but you have to do the work

On 5 November 2009, we heard that our revised application had been successful. We let out a huge cheer. Wow, we were going to set up a Christian TTC in the outer East. Little did we know the amount of work that was to follow. Countless board meetings, construction and purchasing, industry consultation, choosing trades, policy development, appointing a director and staff, RTO and a second campus of MECS registration, course development, a name, logo, key advertising, getting the message out so we could start enrolling students, all the way to where we are now opening. 

It’s opened

And so finally we cheered the opening of Ranges TEC – a Senior Secondary vocational trade college that seeks to serve the Lord in all that it does. It was a special moment – to say thank you to the big team who had so faithfully contributed to this vision and its realisation; and to recognise that we serve a great God who has provided bountifully and gifted every student in their own unique way. 

Martin Hanscamp

Turning Problems into people

What a buzz to see Ranges TEC full of people for the official opening and dedication on Sunday 18 March 2012. Well over 150 people gathered to acknowledge the contributions of so many folk who have worked faithfully to see the vision of a Christian Trade Training Centre realised. The crowd was filled with grandparents, parents, students, and representatives of the three founding schools. Laura Smyth, MP for Latrobe, was there on behalf of the Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth Peter Garrett. Tim Heenan, Councillor for Billanook ward, was also able to attend on behalf of Yarra Ranges Council. Peter Harrison, Deputy CEO of Chisholm Institute, represented his institution (with whom Ranges TEC has an auspicing relationship at this time).

Celebrations began with a welcome from Ellen Prior, Director of Ranges TEC. Adam Mason, one of the students, read from Psalm 100. The Principal of Mountain District Christian School, Chris Prior, led the gathering in a prayer of thanksgiving. Martin Hanscamp, Principal of Mount Evelyn Christian School, spoke about the history of the development of the vision for Ranges TEC. Ross Grace, Principal of Donvale Christian College, then unfolded the development of the project and the way in which we observed God’s timing in so many facets. The story of the approval of the $4.43 million grant from DEEWR’s Trade Training Centres in school program was woven through these two addresses; from initial application failure in 2008, through to approval in principle on 5 November 2009, to the signing of the funding agreement on 25 May 2010. The story of the construction of the three factory campus at 9 Hightech Place Lilydale; the farm at Coulson Rd Monbulk, and the aircraft workshop/hangar at Coldstream airfield was then depicted in a collage of projected images backed by a worship sound track.

Following her address for the official opening of Ranges TEC, Laura Smyth unveiled the plaque acknowledging the contribution of the Commonwealth government in enabling the establishment of the facilities. Three parents spoke of their thankfulness and the positive impact Ranges TEC was having on their children and family. Possibly the highlight of the ceremony were the responses by 4 students (out of the 37 students). Among their heartfelt responses was one expression that captures the impact of Ranges TEC, “I went from being a problem to be managed to being treated as a real person.” You could feel the collective unspoken ‘yes’ at that statement.

I led the gathering in a prayer of dedication – dedicating the facilities, students, staff, and governing working group to God. The ceremony then concluded with Ellen Prior thanking the three founding schools and sending the gathering out with a blessing.

The formalities over, afternoon tea, prepared and served by the Ranges TEC students - began. Tours around the facility then proceeded with students explaining what they had been doing. All in all it was a successful, encouraging afternoon for all participants.

Gerry Beimers

Administration Manager