It won’t be fully operating as an elite sports school high school until the first term of 2027, but this morning NSW Premier Chris Minns dropped in at Eagle Vale High School to check out progress for himself.
He was accompanied by education minister and deputy premier Prue Car, and two South Western MPs, Nathan Hagarty and Anoulack Chanthivong.
Eagle Vale High is within the Campbelltown local government area but is part of the Leppington electorate held by Mr Hagarty.
Wests Tigers NRLW star Kezie Apps also joined this morning’s visit, meeting three members of the school’s rugby league team, pictured top. The conversion to an elite sports high includes multimillion-dollar upgrades to the school’s existing sporting facilities.
New cricket nets and upgraded change rooms have already been delivered as part of the Minns promise ahead of the 2023 NSW election.
Further upgrade works are also under way including for a new running track, resurfacing the school’s full-sized playing field, new lighting for the sports field, new pickleball courts, a new multipurpose hall, a new Health and PE Learning Hub and a new PE Fitness Laboratory.
Eagle Vale High’s Talented Sports Program kicked off on day one term one this year with 60 students who successfully competed in the athletic trials last year excelling across rugby league, basketball and cricket.
The program has a proven track record of nurturing some of the country’s best up-and-coming athletes, including more than 170 national senior level representatives in NRL and AFL, and professional basketballers, golfers and surfers.
Successful alumni of NSW sports high schools include Test cricketer Usman Khawaja, former national cricket captain Michael Clarke, soccer greats Harry Kewell and Campbelltown’s own Matildas star Alanna Kennedy, and former Australian rugby league captain Boyd Cordner.
“No matter the postcode we want to ensure that children across NSW are given every opportunity to achieve their dreams,’’ Mr Minns said.
“This means kids in South West Sydney will have a real opportunity to pursue their sporting aspirations without their parents having to commit to hours of travel each day.
“For both budding athletes and their parents, this is a game changer.
“There is such a strong sporting culture in this part of Sydney and it’s great that the opportunities available to local school children finally reflects that.”
Eagle Vale High School principal Craig Butler said the local community was excited about the new sports facilities.
“They think it’s wonderful that we’re supporting our kids and showing a commitment to the Macarthur area,’’ he said.
“We are going to have kids who will become Olympic champions and professional athletes, but as a sports high school, we can allow them to manage their study so they don’t have to make a choice between academic success and sport.
“The students know they are part of something special and talk about the school with pride,” Mr Butler said.
Member for Leppington Nathan Hagarty said it was fantastic to see the upgrade works under way.
“Delivering a selective sports stream for the Macarthur community is giving talented young athletes from our local area more opportunities,’’ he said.
“I cannot wait to see the dividends this investment delivers for our strong local sporting community.”
