Bright Children, Bright Ideas

A visit to the local schools which are low fee church schools, in a joint venture between Catholics and Anglicans. Everybody pays something towards their child’s education, usually about $1000, there are rebates for poorer families and school fees are tax deductible. The schools are wonderful with bright shiny children and pretty impressive buildings. They are pretty small with only 80-90 children in each year in three forms. In other parts of the state the schools are much bigger, one is as large as 3000 pupils and is split into three campuses. It’s interesting that Catholic schools don’t get local authority funding but rather have an institutional contract with the federal state who provide some funding. Maybe the ability to make a contract nationally about education provision makes the national agreement with Anglicare for welfare easier.
Tomorrow I get to talk to the older children in assembly, for those who know me it’s the balloon talk not the turkey insemination talk.
To Adelaide Cathedral to meet the Dean who is yet another regeneration kindred spirit. He has spent the last few years befriending business and community types in Adelaide and is now ready with his master plan… not to take over the world but rather a creative thing to collect the water that comes off the roof of the Cathedral to supplement the city’s water supply. Water is a huge issue here as the rivers are becoming seriously depleted. I can’t help thinking that they ought to be talking to the Yemenis. Particularly as part of what’s causing the problems is over extraction by farmers further up stream. Of course the other solution would be to build a pipeline to Britain where we have no lack of water. Meanwhile with the dean for lunch he talked about how faith leaders could champion projects, being the front person for projects. Whilst not necessarily having other transferable skills we are certainly comfortable with standing at the front.
Following our long lunch a wander back into Adelaide to find a hat that fits at Adelaide hats where they have ones that are too big for me! The wander is a bit too long and all the cafes are closed by 4.00 p.m. so I am spitting feathers on the long drive home. If Manchester is the 24 hour city Adelaide is the 6 hour one!
Tomorrow I get to meet the director of Anglicare so hopefully some answers to the question as to how it all works.