From the Principal and the Chair

As we near the end of another successful semester at Radford, we thought it was timely to write a joint article updating you about:

• the progress of our Sports Precinct;
• the naming of the Sports Precinct and associated buildings; and
• the budgetary challenges heading into 2024.

Visitors to the campus would have seen significant progress in recent weeks of the three remaining Sports Precinct projects - the Multi-Purpose Hall, the Cricket Centre and the extension of the G. Wigg Sports Centre.

We are delighted to report that with the roofs on and most of the walls up, work can continue on the fit outs through the wet winter weather.

Despite some unforeseen engineering and services issues that have arisen in recent months, all three projects are due to be completed by mid-to-late September. We are hoping that students will be using the facilities by early Term 4.

A recent tour of the sites highlighted how impressively designed these spaces are and how much they will be used and welcomed by students from all year levels. We are very fortunate to have such high-quality facilities, which will incorporate sport and other school requirements. We expect that in time, these buildings will also be sought out as hireable venues by organisations within Canberra when not being used by the Radford community.

With the opening of the facilities now imminent, the Board and management have been considering the names for these facilities that, in the tradition of the school, recognise the significant contributions made to Radford College. At a recent Board meeting, the naming of the facilities was approved as set out below.

The Baker Family Sports Precinct

This area incorporates the new outside courts and existing facilities on the southeastern edge of our campus. It is named in honour of former Board Chair, Steve Baker, his wife Mariana Galinec, and the extended Baker family. Steve served on the Finance Committee for five-and-a-half years, the latter three years as Chair. He joined the Board itself in 2014 and served as Chair from late 2017 until the end of 2021. Mariana served on the Building & Grounds Committee from 2010 until 2020, the last seven of these years as Chair. She also served on the Board from 2013 until 2017. Together, they have had five children educated at Radford. It is fitting that the Sports Precinct is named in Steve and his family’s honour as much of the preliminary ideas, concepts and designs were developed while Steve was Chair of the Board.

The Collegians Centre

The Multi-Purpose Hall (as it has been known) will, in the future, be officially known as the Collegians Centre in recognition of the generations of Collegians who have been educated at Radford and have now made contributions to their chosen field of endeavour. Along with our current students, we hope each and every one of the Radford Collegians will someday get a chance to experience this magnificent facility and appreciate all that Radford was able to provide for them while students here. Importantly, the Collegians Centre will, for the first time, provide space for our now 2100 students and more than 300 staff to gather indoors in the one place, at the same time. With our 40-year anniversary next year, the Board and Management thought this a fitting recognition of our alumni.

The Boorer Family Cricket Centre

In recognition of the Boorer Family’s very generous gift to the College of $5 million, the cricket centre will be named the Boorer Family Cricket Centre. Not only does this reflect the generosity of the family in providing the gift to the College, but also the commitment and passion that the Boorer Family has for the importance of sport in the holistic education of children.

The extension to the G. Wigg Sports Centre will be incorporated into the existing facility and will simply be referred to in the future as part of the G. Wigg Sports Centre.

One of the most pleasing aspects of these new facilities is that it will give our students considerably more options to stay indoors at recess and lunchtime when the weather is either too hot or too cold to be outside. They will be more than just buildings. They will be places where your children will learn, laugh and play.

2024 Budget and Fees

Over the next couple of months, the Board and management will be working on a considered budget for the 2024 academic year, reflecting the economic challenges that have been presented to us.

As we have both previously written, this budget will need to consider the substantial loss in funding experienced over the past 12 months, as well as the need to remain competitive with regard to the retention and remuneration of our staff. Many parents would be aware that the ACT Government, through the Education Directorate, has offered their teachers significant pay rises over the next 2–3 years. While it is pleasing to see the importance of the teaching profession recognised in this way, it does present the College with an added budgetary pressure. Radford will continue to strive to be an employer of choice, and part of that is the recognition of market remuneration. The College will respond to this in order to retain and attract the very best teachers. This is one of the most critical elements of successful schools. Aligned to this is excellent College Services staff to support the teachers and other services the College provides. In a dynamic and changing labour market reflective of uncertain economic conditions, we seek to continue providing the high-quality education and operations that our parents and caregivers expect.

Our deliberations on fee increases for 2024 will be reflective of these changes in our government funding and our operating costs. The Board will be looking to make an announcement regarding fees for 2024 by mid-September this year. We hope the early release of the 2024 fee schedule allows families to incorporate the increase in fees into the planning of their household budgets.

We acknowledge that you have a choice about where to educate your child or children. Thank you for choosing Radford and for being part of our community.

Wishing you and your families a safe and relaxing holiday, and we look forward to updating you further, later in the year.