With the wet season now behind us, Douglas Shire Council has handed back the keys to Wonga Beach State School — a small but symbolic moment marking the end of months of community readiness.
During the wet season, Council held a set of keys so the school could be opened after hours if an extreme weather event required it. The arrangement ensured the school could act as a safe, familiar space for families needing support, with access to toilets, kitchen facilities, play resources and a dry place to gather.
Wonga Beach State School Principal Anita Cubit said the school’s role during and after Cyclone Jasper highlighted just how important the site was to the local community.
“The school became a real hub in the community. Families could bring their children here to play, and we had toilet and kitchen facilities available when people needed them.”
Building a stronger community hub
Anita said staff were determined to strengthen the school’s ability to support the community in future events.
“Our school is very community‑focused. Our staff were really keen to make sure the school geared up for any possible future events.”
The school has:
- Upgraded plumbing in the resource centre, tuckshop and main toilet block
- Installed water tanks
- Connected key buildings to a generator to ensure water can run during outages
- Maintained a defibrillator on site for community use
- Provided basic first aid supplies, with support from a school parent who is a nurse
- Welcomed a local paramedic who assisted community members during the recovery period
The school also hosted Council’s community sessions on flood studies and disaster resilience, with strong attendance from local residents.
Looking Ahead: Solar storage
Anita said the school was eager to continue working with Council to strengthen its resilience.
“We have solar panels on one of our buildings, but we don’t have the capacity to store the power they generate. Battery storage for our main resource building would be terrific.”
Council’s Disaster Management Unit is already working with the school on the next steps, including plans to connect a battery to the school’s solar network — another boost to local resilience.
A partnership built on trust
The key handover arrangement began before the Christmas break, when the school prepared its resource centre for possible weather events. Toys and resources were set out for families, and items were packed away to keep the space safe and accessible.
A trusted community member held the key over the wet season, ready to open the school if needed. The key was formally returned at the end of March — the traditional close of the wet season.
“The key has now been put in a safe place, ready if we need to gear up quickly again. We have strong connections in our local community, and they’re only a phone call away.”
Why the school stepped up
While there was no obligation for Wonga Beach State School to become a community hub, Ms Cubit said the decision was simple.
“Our school has a strong connection to our local community. We see our facilities as part of the community — not just for us. We want this to be a place where people can come and seek support when needed.”
Staff have also undertaken Little Birdie training, a program that helps children understand natural disasters, warning signs and safety steps. The school now uses puppets and resources to support students who were impacted by recent events.
A Season of Preparedness
Although the 2025–26 wet season brought several forecasted cyclones rather than direct impacts, the school remained ready throughout — and continues to play a central role in Council’s disaster resilience work.
Council’s Disaster Management Unit values the school’s strong community vision and looks forward to continuing this partnership.
