Today, the heritage building is gathering dust following its closure last year.

Corangamite Shire mayor Chris O’Connor is frustrated at a lack of progress over the site’s future use and is calling on the state government to beef up security.

The college was broken into last month with thieves stealing $3000 in goods and Cr O’Connor has been told cattle have been damaging the former homestead’s gardens.

Cr O’Connor makes a strong point that the college’s gardens are heritage listed and should be maintained.

Those with long memories remember what happened to Warrnambool’s former psychiatric facility Brierly when it was vacated and left empty for years. It was heavily vandalised, set on fire and was trashed so badly buildings that could have had significant community uses had to be destroyed.

Glenormiston College is reportedly still in good condition but it would be a shame if such a facility fell into disrepair.

The issue of the college’s future has been raised in parliament with the responsible minister, Steve Herbert, who is understood to support the centre remaining an education facility.

Many would support the college functioning in the manner Mr Herbert desires.

But Mr Herbert has been publicly reticent on the matter and needs to relay how the state government will handle Glenormiston’s future, whatever those plans are. 

Decay by inertia is not an option.

MOST south-west Victorians have driven between Geelong and Melbourne. But few can say they’ve commuted by helicopter.

Bronwyn Bishop has and the taxpayer was handed a hefty price tag. 

The Speaker of the House of Representatives chartered a helicopter from Melbourne to the Geelong region in November as part of a state election fundraiser.

Oddly enough, aviation experts claim the $5227 helicopter ride would have hardly saved Ms Bishop much time.

Travelling by train or car takes roughly 60 minutes and the chopper charter would have taken the same amount.

Ms Bishop initially defended the flight and defended the expense involved as part of her “concern for her country”.

However, the Speaker changed her tune on Thursday afternoon and paid the bill.

Ms Bishop is correct when she said she did nothing wrong. Her expense claims were all documented and above board.

Where the Speaker erred was in forgetting how such an extravagance would be interpreted by average Australians. Most citizens would excuse the Prime Minister from taking the helicopter trip, no matter which politician holds the office.

However, Ms Bishop is not the nation’s leader and should not be afforded such outlandish luxuries.