A COMMUNITY advisory group formed to advocate for the retention of a university campus in Warrnambool will meet for the first time on Wednesday.
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The final two positions in the group have been filled with Chris Kol from accountancy group Coffey Hunt and Shane Wilson from law firm Jellie McDonald filling the remaining seats.
They join Warrnambool mayor Kylie Gaston, Deakin University alumni Dr Bernadette Northeast, Emmanuel College principal Peter Morgan, student Zoe Dyer, businessman Steve Callaghan, parent Mary Timms and Deakin University staff member and National Tertiary Education Union representative Michael Callaghan.
Cr Gaston will act as the group’s chair and said it will look at every possible scenario to ensure access to higher education remained in the south-west.
She said the group was taking a regional approach. She said she had been flooded with phone calls and emails from community leaders from across the south-west.
“I knew the region would step up to this fight, but the support that has been coming has been really overwhelming,” Cr Gaston said.
“I’ve been speaking with the mayors and have been talking to (Wannon MP) Dan Tehan daily.
“The advisory group will speak with all parties involved in this. It has to be negotiated on all levels.”
Cr Gaston said university guides were released in July, so it was imperative a solution was found before the end of May to ensure Warrnambool was included.
“If there is no Warrnambool in those course guides, there will be no students,” she said.
“We are at two minutes to midnight on this. Timing is absolutely critical.”
In response to Western Victoria MP James Purcell calling for federal funding to ensure a deal could be brokered, Cr Gaston said it was important to remember Deakin University was “very well resourced”.
At next week’s Warrnambool City Council meeting, Cr Brian Kelson will move a notice of motion calling for council to make strong representations to Deakin University to retain its operations in the city.
His motion also calls on council to meet with university staff, including Vice Chancellor Jane den Hollander, to discuss a long-term strategy, as well as meeting with state and federal MPs and senators to seek their “urgent support”.
