Community recycles classroom of 'the boy from Bassendean'

Thursday, 27 May 2010

Casa Mia Montessori Community School in Bassendean, Western Australia has a new library that was once a classroom attended by Rolf Harris.

Mr Harris, one of Australia’s and Britain's best-loved entertainers, was taught in the classroom from 1938 into the war years.

The building was saved from demolition by the combined efforts of a former Bassendean Primary School student, staff from the two schools and members of the local community. The group joined forces to obtain funding of $75 000 for a new library under the Primary Schools for the 21st Century element of the Building the Education Revolution (BER) program.

The building was generously donated by Bassendean Primary School in conjunction with the WA Department of Education.

The classroom was relocated under police escort from its original location at Bassendean Primary School to Casa Mia Montessori Community School in September 2009.

Casa Mia Montessori parent and grants co-ordinator, Shane Mazandarani, said their new building would be much more than just a new school library.

"It's the school's library, but it's also a building that's available to the community to hire. Everyone pulled together to make sure the building wasn't knocked down, so it has already brought the community together," he said.

Rolf Harris, the ‘boy from Bassendean’, wrote to Bassendean Primary and Casa Mia Montessori reminiscing about his time in the classroom.

“I spent a year in that room when Miss MacDonald taught us, probably in 1939. Then, when the war broke out and we’d gone on to high school in Midland Junction, they needed the high school building for something to do with the army, so we were sent back to the old school and shared it with the primary school kids. They were taught in the morning and we had the afternoons…in that very room you mention. Thanks for the memory.”

Casa Mia Montessori also received $50 000 for construction of a new shade structure, outdoor learning area and play equipment under the National Schools Pride program of the Building the Education Revolution.

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