ABOUT US

pgr was formed some years ago by parents in the St Kilda/Elwood area of Melbourne who were dismayed by the savage funding cuts to public schools, initially instituted in Victoria by Premier Jeff Kennett and subsequently instituted nationally by Prime Minister John Howard. While both of these governments are no longer in power, unfortunately the public school funding situation is still grave.

pgr initially had primarily a fund-raising role, hosting a number of events - a musical extravaganza at the Espy Hotel with numerous musicians and comedians performing, a video launch, an art auction, a concert for kinder kids - pgr's LITTLE KID'S BIG DAY OUT, and a community day at Luna Park. .

pgr subsequently assumed the roles of public education advocacy and promotion of the arts within public schools. To promote the arts we instigated "PLAYGROUNDS" a youth performance project involving local secondary school students in the development of a performance about starting high school, for which we received sponsorship grants. The final performance was staged at Gasworks theatre for local upper primary school students. .

As part of our public education advocacy role we held a Secondary Public School Expo called "PUBLIC BY CHOICE" at Gasworks Arts Park, where 15 inner metropolitan public secondary schools held information stalls, while secondary students performed, and public figures talked on panels about the benefits of public education. .

We also published letters in national newspapers signed by hundred of prominent Australians and submitted a petition to the federal government protesting at the inequitable funding for public schools (which contributed to the subsequent abolition of the Enrolment Benchmark Adjustment). Alas more campaigning is necessary to rid us of the so-called Socio-Economic Status index national funding model for schools. .

In the last few years we have concentrated on promoting public education locally. We set up our website with the assistance of students from Melbourne University, and are now revamping it with students from Swinburne University. We printed a series of postcards in 2004 which are displayed on this website, ran a postcard competition for secondary students in 2006, and in 2007 distributed a postcard designed by Academy Award-winning animator Bruce Petty via Avantcard. .

We have also conducted parent surveys for local schools regarding school curriculum and school preferences, worked locally with community organizations to promote local public schools (including support for the current 'High School for Coburg' campaign), and continue working with other education groups both in Melbourne and interstate. .