St Peter’s College welcomed a number of special guests for the official opening of their new Performing Arts Centre at their Clyde North Campus on Thursday 27 October.
College principal Chris Black was joined by Cranbourne MP Pauline Richards, Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Sale, Most Reverend Greg Bennet and Maria Kirkwood, director of Catholic Education and chief executive, Diocese of Sale, to bless the building.
The $15 million ‘GEODE CENTRE’ is a state-of-the-art, 450-seat, Performing Arts Centre designed for not only College Performing Arts learning, assemblies and lectures, but also for the wider local community.
Funding was sourced from the Catholic Development Fund (CDF) through a loan of $9.5 million, the college contributed $1.5 million in cash reserves and the Victorian Government contributed $4 million in funding support through the Catholic Capital (Victoria) Limited Program.
Ms Kirkwood said the joyful sounds of students singing praise on stage underlined the excitement and pride the school community has in showcasing this wonderful contemporary learning space.
“I am certain in the months and years ahead that this centre will be a place of lively and dynamic learning activity, involving many people sharing ideas and growing together,” Ms Kirkwood said.
“This blessing ceremony provides an opportunity for all of us to gather to give thanks and recognise the contributions of so many people in creating a centre of teaching excellence where young people can thrive.”
Mr Black explained the origins of the name of the building, telling the audience it was inspired by the school’s namesake.
“A Geode is a spherical rock structure which has a durable outer wall with the inner layers revealing the beauty of a cavernous core,” he said.
“In our context the rock is synonymous with our patron St Peter with the full beauty of the central space only to be realised in the performances which will be presented within this space.”
The Performing Arts Centre has been 12 years in the making.
The actual centre and accompanying facilities have been three years in the design phase and two and a half years in the construction, encompassing state-of-the-art sound and lighting.
The backstage and biobox facilities will provide outstanding technical excellence to support productions and events.
Mr Black said surrounding the theatre, both downstairs and upstairs, are a suite of classroom spaces, change facilities, rehearsal spaces and green rooms, and that it is a centre both campuses can be proud of.
“The stage itself is a wonderful expanse to showcase the talents of our students,” Mr Black said.
“My thanks, in particular, are extended to Mr Phillip Mustey, business manager and Mr Adam Bonnici, our maintenance officer.”
The ‘GEODE CENTRE’ has been designed and built with not only the needs of St Peter’s College Performing Arts learning in mind, but also the needs of the local community.
The facility is available for hire, bringing a much-needed meeting/performance space to the communities of Clyde North, Cranbourne and surrounding suburbs. To make enquiries, please contact the college at officecln@stpeters.vic.edu.au
