Letter to the Editor
Published on 22 June 2026
Recently, I was disappointed to read an article in the Herald Sun titled ‘Future of Victorian public schools at risk under sweeping state government review’.
In the article, Ben Carroll the Victorian Education Minister delivered an excellent piece of election year rhetoric.
“There will be no school closures – our government doesn’t close schools, we open them,” he said.
It sounds excellent but is it true?
When you look at what’s happening to the Mansfield Secondary College Annex (‘The Annex’) on Mt Buller, the statement doesn’t check out.
An iconic institution that has strengthened the bond between the Mansfield Shire and Mt Buller communities, since its opening in 1996, is being shut down.
Why?
Community members, including students and their parents, have stepped forward and asked Mansfield Shire’s Councillors to step in and advocate on their behalf because they feel they have been left without a voice in a matter that significantly impacts them.
Mansfield Shire Council, along with various stakeholders on the mountain and in our shire, have met with representatives of Mansfield Secondary College and the Department of Education and Training to discuss the uncertain future of the school.
We have offered our support to do whatever we can to help the Annex continue operating on Mt Buller in 2026 and beyond.
We have been told that any decision regarding the ongoing operation of the Annex would ultimately require Ministerial approval.
Despite the significance of this matter for students, families and the broader community, numerous subsequent requests seeking an update on the proposed closure have not been responded to by the Department.
The absence of any communication has created considerable uncertainty and concern amongst stakeholders.
If the Annex were to close permanently the negative consequences are likely to be far reaching and long-lasting.
The education provided by the Annex, steeped in success with ex-students such as Olympic gold medallist Jakara Anthony, is only part of the story. The Annex provides immense value to the Mt Buller community and its connection with Mansfield; it is critical to supporting students wanting to participate in athlete development pathway programs; and has significant benefits in supporting commercial businesses and real estate – benefits which flow to the Mansfield community.
The pathway to the Mountain is sacred in Mansfield Shire. Closing the Annex will make opportunities for children to experience the snow more difficult by increasing costs and travel time. This potentially closes a currently viable career path for a growing community that requires job market growth – not job market losses.
The mountain is a 45-minute drive from the Mansfield Secondary college and the closest school bus departs from Mirimbah, which forces parents working on Mt Buller to drive their children down an ice and snow covered road early in the morning every morning Monday to Friday. This is dangerous. Council has made the Minister and senior bureaucrats within the department of education aware of our safety concerns.
Given Victoria is the Education State and our Minister for Education is telling us his government do not close schools, it would be a tragedy to close this unique and important community asset without making every effort to promote it, support it, and do whatever else is needed to make the Annex a long-term, financially sustainable service.
We stand by ready to assist and we look forward to the Minister for Education convincing us that his government does not shut down schools.
Mayor Cr Steve Rabie
Mansfield Shire Council