Daylesford Primary School students and teachers called “pens down” or more likely “iPads down” and left the schoolyard to visit The Block building site on Friday, May 23. 

They met with some of the show’s stars, pictured below, from left, interior designer Shaynna Blaze, and co-presenters Scott Cam and Shelley Craft. 

The students were then taken on a tour of the site with foreman Dan Reilly, pictured above centre with cap. Filming for the television blockbuster is just about finished with the show due to be aired in early August – before the five houses on the Raglan Street site go up for auction. 

A spokesperson said the show’s builders Nine In Six would stay at the site, doing maintenance on the houses and gardens, until the end of the auctions which were likely to be late October or early November.

Real estate agents for the houses will also be doing private open for inspections. Central Highlands residents, who have watched The Block houses rise up from the former sheep paddock, can look forward to seeing promotions for the show go to air later this month. 

Daylesford Primary School principal Ali McCann said the school had been in touch with The Block about doing some television promotions with their younger students and the idea of a tour had been raised. 

“Our grade five and six students walked up and had a really good time, it was such a unique experience for them. 

“They had lots of weird and wonderful questions for The Block team who gave us a tour around the site and introduced us to members of the team, including hosts, the interior designers and the competitors. Everyone really enjoyed the experience.” 

Words: Donna Kelly | Images: Contributed  

Daylesford Primary School has been named among the winners in this year’s Victorian Education Excellence Awards announced in recent days.

The annual awards celebrate the state’s outstanding teachers, principals and support staff with the local Daylesford Primary School (pictured above) named among the winners in the Outstanding Provision for High-Ability Students (Primary) category.
Congratulating the winners and finalists at The Plaza Ballroom in central Melbourne, Minister
for Education Ben Carroll applauded the commitment and passion of teachers, leaders and
school staff across Victoria for their incredible work in helping make Victoria the Education State.
The Victorian Education Excellence Awards celebrate the inspirational teachers, principals,
business managers, support staff working in Government schools to help students to achieve
their best.
The awards support the continued professional development of staff, with professional learning
grants of up to $25,000 for the winner in each category.
Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas: “Congratulations to Daylesford Primary School. Teachers, leaders and school staff in Macedon do tremendous work in setting local students up to thrive in their education and life – and these awards recognise and praise these educators for their outstanding
contributions.”
Minister for Education Ben Carroll: “Congratulations to all the winners and finalists of this year’s Victorian Education Excellence Awards – you do Victoria proud and your big ideas inspire students across the state.”
“These awards recognise the work that our amazing school workforce do to motivate and inspire students to pursue their dreams and passions and are a key part of what makes us the Education State.”

Daylesford Primary School is among 47 finalists newly announced for the 2023 Victorian Education Excellence Awards.

The awards celebrate those who work to improve schools and help students achieve their best with inspirational teachers, principals, business managers, support staff and schools recognised for the valuable work they do.
Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas last week congratulated teacher Andrew Vella from the Sunbury and Macedon Ranges Specialist School and Daylesford Primary School after both were named among the finalists.
The 15 individual and team award categories include outstanding principal (primary and secondary), outstanding teacher (primary and secondary), outstanding business manager, outstanding, provision for high-ability students (primary and secondary) outstanding education support and outstanding Koorie education.

The Victorian Education Excellence Awards support the continued professional development of staff, with professional learning grants of $20,000 available for each individual award and $25,000 for each team award.
One category winner will also receive the esteemed Lindsay Thompson Award for Excellence in Education, which offers a further professional learning grant of $20,000. Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on Friday, 27 October 2023.
Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas: “We’re making Victoria the Education State for students no matter where they live. Local kids in Macedon are getting the direct benefits, with inspirational teachers and schools creating meaningful learning opportunities to help our students shine.”

Results of two projects funded under the Hepburn Shire’s 2022 Biodiversity Grant program and completed in June are in.

Daylesford Primary School developed a biodiversity education program including the design and planting of a wildlife garden featuring local native plants.

“The area has been transformed from an empty space into a lush garden and continues to grow successfully,” a school spokesperson resports.

“As you can see, the students are super proud of the impact their work has had on biodiversity at our school! Their involvement with this project is something that they will take with them throughout their lives.”

Wattle Flat Pootilla Landcare used their grant to co-fund replacement of an ageing activities trailer. The organisers commented:

“Having all of our items in the trailer takes some of the pressure off the committee when planning, and on event days as everything is organised and in the one place.”

The next Community Biodiversity grant round will open early in 2024 and fund up to $5000 per group for biodiversity-related works.