Observatory Closing down ...

[ZeroID]

:(
My old secondary school about 2 km away from where I live now is closing it's doors. Plenty of equipment and a good site for a suburban setup but no money to fund one staff member for it. Quote below the staff member who has been running it till now. It was only completed in 2007 by staff and pupils. (I xxx'd out the new school name)

Usual story, lack of funding, lack of support from management etc etc. So I've resigned and moving to a new school. Watch this space - in a few years there may be a xxxxxxxx School Observatory...

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Gavin

Mt Albert Grammar School Observatory
Auckland, New Zealand

http://www.mags.school.nz/astronomy/index.html (http://www.mags.school.nz/astronomy/index.html)

I guess it is all very well to buy the equipment but then it all needs someone in control and in these frugal days that is becoming more difficult.
Shame really ...:shrug:

[brian nordstrom]

:sadeyes: Thats sad news , I used to play rugby union against the boys from Grammar , always hard games , man this sux !! where are they moving to ?
Property devolopers? got there claws in or something ?
:mad2: :mad2: :mad2: :mad2:.
Brian

[ZeroID]

No, no property developers, The Ob is within the school farm boundaries. The area is sacrosanct being the no 2 school in Auckland. Just a lack of $$$ to fund and staff it apparently. If you check the website it is already well appointed with equipment. Seems a shame it will get little if any use. They had plans to automate and make it available online to other schools & groups but seems to have foundered on bureaucracy and accountants decisions. Never mind education and knowledge.

[Poita]

Any chance of getting some press and some public spirit and getting something done about it?

One person can often make a difference if they are driven enough to get lots of people to make a difference :)

[MrB]

Since when did they matter? :lol:
The education system in Australia is no better. Money is all that counts at the end of the day.