The numbers at Cowes Primary School increased at an extraordinarily high rate … to 581 students … over the decade to 2018, due to the rapid expansion taking place on Phillip Island, putting pressure on facilities established when numbers were sub 400.

The school had well and truly outgrown its existing gymnasium, because of the rapid increase in numbers.

School assemblies were no longer possible indoors, as the numbers could not be facilitated in the space; and the gymnasium was too small to accommodate basketball, netball or tennis courts.

Cowes Primary School Council president Brendan Cashman, decided it was time act.

Brendan was aware that a school the size of Cowes Primary was entitled to a competition size gymnasium under the parameters set out by the Victorian School Building Authority.

And through feedback from local community and sporting groups, he established that a community indoor multi-purpose space was vital if these clubs were to be able to continue to provide meaningful sporting opportunities to their growing memberships.

With no public gymnasium on Phillip Island, clubs were unable to cater for the needs of their rising numbers, resulting in lengthy wait-lists and even the reluctant turning away of participants.

Basketball and netball players were travelling as far afield as Cranbourne, Dandenong, Korumburra and Wonthaggi to compete.

No indoor facilities to train were available for football and soccer associations and other sports were cancelled due to the unavailability of facilities.

Indoor netball and indoor soccer and futsal no longer ran, and the gymnastics program was unable to expand.

Once the school and community needs had been formally identified, the school council, under the leadership of Brendan Cashman and with the strong support of principal Rod McKenzie, set about the task of working hard to see that they were met.

A gymnasium to be built within the school grounds, which would be made available to community groups outside of school hours, was the priority the school set.

Aware that the 2018 state election was looming, and that Bass was a marginal seat and likely to be a focus for both sides of politics, the school established a process to highlight its needs, and shine a light on the problems the rapid population explosion on Phillip Island was causing when it came to recreational infrastructure.

The first step was to put together a business case, which was then presented personally by school representatives to both sides of politics.

Its premise: Cowes Primary was seeking endorsement and an election commitment from state political parties to commit to funding the building of a new multi-purpose indoor recreational facility to service the needs of the largest primary school in Bass Coast, and the broader Phillip Island community.

Brendan Cashman, Rod McKenzie, and other school representatives met with both Labor and Liberal candidates for the seat of Bass, on a number of occasions, to outline their needs.

And they must have been convincing.

Because less than six months later, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews visited the school with candidate for Bass Jordan Crugnale, promising to build a full-size gymnasium at Cowes Primary School, if returned at the looming state election; and that pledge was matched 48 hours later by the sitting Liberal member for Bass Brian Paynter.

The school community was elated. And the rest is of course history.

Reflecting last week on the four-year journey until the gymnasium doors were officially opened last week, Brendan commented: “To be honest, it is the best thing I have done. I feel very proud to be involved in helping achieve this outstanding facility, that will stand the test of time for students at Cowes for decades to come.”

He particularly commended the outstanding contribution and hard work and effort to bring the project to fruition by Cowes Primary Principal Rod McKenzie.

“Rod was a key driver of this project, as work got underway. He was at every planning and architects meeting. He did not miss one, and what was achieved is a great asset for this school.

“The great thing is that the Cowes community will reap the benefits as well. The gymnasium is available for community use out of school hours, on a not-for-profit basis.

“It is there for the whole community to benefit from.

“And that is as it should be.”

Brendan, who served on the school council for 11 years, the last three as president, retired early this year when his youngest left Cowes for his secondary schooling.

The contribution he made has been a significant one, and was recognised at a special assembly at the school recently, by Rod McKenzie.

Rod paid tribute to Brendan Cashman as he was farewelled from school council recently after 11 years of service, describing him as a visionary and a key player in securing the electoral commitment back in 2018 that resulted in the spectacular new gymnasium.

Rod said Brendan worked strategically behind the scenes to ensure Cowes Primary School was not forgotten in the last election, and thanked him for his ongoing support and hard work for the school.

Brendan took up a position on school council when his eldest child started in prep and has now retired as his youngest son completed Year 6 at the end of last year.

He held the role of school council president since 2017.