Page 7 - NLN November

Mango Murphy Retires After 45 Doors open on new school in 2020
years of Service It has been announced that the first students

A career spanning decades that contributed to will start at a secondary school in the Mango Hill
providing us with some of the state’s biggest / North Lakes area in 2020.
infastructure projects, Mango has a lot to be Education Minister Kate Jones said the
proud of! Gerald Murphy (Mango as we all commitment was a win for one of the state’s fastest-
know him) started his career with Main Roads in January growing regions and proof of the government’s dedication
1972 as a draftsman in Roma and later in Bundaberg. to delivering more education infrastructure in Queensland.
In February 1985, he commenced as a Cadet Engineer “We have listened to the concerns of locals about the demand
studying part time for the Metropolitan South division. for education resources in North Lakes and Mango Hill and I
In January of 1991 he was promoted to Project Engineer am proud to announce that we will open a school in the area
and Engineer’s Representative of the Metropolitan South in 2020,” she said.
division. From August 1997 onwards, he enjoyed roles “This will help to ensure we can achieve our goal of giving
all over Queensland as Manager and Director of large the best possible quality of education to every child in
infastructure projects. Forty years later, in 2012, Mango Queensland.”
was appointed as the Project Director of the Moreton Bay With 3008 students, North Lakes State College is currently at
Rail Link. With a change of Government, Transport and 76 per cent of its capacity. The new High School will deal with
Main Roads became the delivery agent for all transport future demand for education infrastructure
Infrastructure projects including rail. Mango was given the Environment Minister Steven Miles said growth projections for
responsibility of delivering the Moreton Bay Rail Project. North Lakes and Mango Hill meant the new school was vital.
In June 2009, Mango received the Chartered Institute of “The new high school will be open by the time students
Logistics and Transport (T&L) Industry Award for individual currently in grade four get to high school, like my son Sam.
recognition for contribution to the engineering industry. On It’s hard to believe that’s not much more than two years away.
Australia Day, 2017 Mango was awarded the Public Service “This is a great result for families in North Lakes and Mango
Medal for outstanding service to Transport and Main Roads. Hill and I can’t wait to see construction get underway,” he
The Public Service Medal is the highest recognition a public said.
servant can receive for a life time of service to the people Murrumba MP Chris Whiting said he had long advocated for
of Queensland. The team at Big Local thank Mango for his the construction of a new school in the area and was thrilled
years of dedication and wish him a wonderful retirement! the government had listened to locals and committed to
deliver for the people of North Lakes and Mango Hill.
“The junior and middle campus at North Lakes State College
is forecast to reach its capacity by 2021,” he said.
“This will make sure we have the teaching resources we
need to give our children the best education possible into
the future.”
The exact location for the school grounds is still yet to be
decided. The school will cost approximately $36 million
to construct. Once the site has been decided, Education
Queensland will look at the catchment area.

November 2017 www.northlakesnow.com.au 7