Media Release
Katherine students heading home after breakfast tomorrow
Friday 7 April 2006
Students from the Katherine South Primary School have welcomed the news that they will be returning home to Katherine by charter flight tomorrow morning.
The majority of the 30 students will travel with charter flight company Vincent Air, who have offered to fly the students, and their teachers and carers, home free-of-charge. Three students have elected to stay in Darwin with extended family and return to Katherine at a later date.
The students travelled to Darwin earlier in the week on a school excursion and were prevented from returning home to Katherine on Thursday due the Stuart Highway being cut-off by rising floodwaters.
Deputy Chief Executive with the Department of Employment, Education and Training (DEET) John Dove said several Darwin businesses have rallied to support the students during their time in Darwin.
“We are really impressed with the local businesses that have gone out of their way to help entertain these kids, make them as comfortable as possible, and keep their minds off the situation at home”.
The students have been accommodated free-of-charge at Coconut Grove Holiday Apartments, fed by Outback Bakery and McDonald’s Ludmilla, given Radio Hot 100FM backpacks, and entertained by C-Max Cinema and the Territory Wildlife Park.
Jingili Primary School have welcomed the students into their classrooms and are tonight hosting a ‘sleep over’ at the school, for which Sanderson High School, Anula Primary School and Kormilda College have provide gym mattresses and bedding.