By GEORGIA WESTGARTH
ZANIA Cope has been in the top job just six months and has already dubbed Tooradin Primary School the most sustainable school she’s ever worked at.
Ms Cope replaced long-serving principal Marg Scarce after 17 years at Tooradin primary and calls her an “icon of the place.”
“Marg set the school up so beautifully,” Ms Cope said.
“And with majority of our students moving onto Kooweerup Secondary, where my husband Michael teaches, the transition has just been beautiful.”
Ms Cope, from Berwick, a teacher with 27 years of experience, said she fell in love with the school straight away.
“When I first came to see the school, I was alerted to a family of blue tongue lizards that live on the school grounds and you just don’t get that elsewhere,” Ms Cope said.
Born in New Zealand, Ms Cope said the “country feel” of Tooradin reminded her of her home town, Timaru.
“I grew up in a township of just 21,000 people and since starting here I have been amazed at the incredible local support,” she said.
Ms Cope has been approached by numerous local stores asking how their services can be of help, along with donations from neighbours and the wider community.
“We have so many parent helpers that I have created a parents and friends association (PFA) and I just never thought that the community would donate so much,” she said.
The school recently received 30 strawberry plants and about 10 rhubarb plants from neighbour Doris Crowley and her late husband Jack.
“She is also donating two water tanks for us as well and Alan Erskine from Doveton donates $20 a week for our cooking program,” Ms Cope said.
The Tooradin Dalmore Football Netball club recently gave the school $2500 to install a water system for their growing vegie patch.
“This community is amazing, I can’t believe it they just give us access to everything,” Ms Cope said.
