Hall of Finlay Fame

FAMILIES filled Chairo Christian School’s newly built Finlay Hall last month to mark its official opening.
McMillan MP Russell Broadbent treated the crowd to a tuneful rendition of Old McDonald’s Farm. He said the campus’ founding parent Lisa Finlay would’ve been singing on the way home after Eric McDonald agreed to subdivide 40 acres off his farm for the Pakenham school.
The school’s deputy principal Steve McAllister also spoke at the event, opening with a powerpoint presentation and acknowledging a $500,000 Federal Government grant for the $1.2 million project.
The hall is named after the Finlay family, recognising their contribution to the opening of the school’s Pakenham campus.
Lisa Finlay headed up a steering committee in 1996 to start the Pakenham campus. Although there were many people involved in the project, Lisa was the main driving force, co-ordinating the project.
Mr McAllister said the Finlay family made a huge sacrifice over the following three years, with Lisa organising people to raise funds and making the community aware that a Pakenham campus was on the way. She became a full-time volunteer when the land for the school was purchased. Mr McAllister said: “God used Lisa in an amazing way to start the new campus. She gave freely of her time, energy and talents to make sure that Pakenham would start well. Her family was also very generous in supporting her and allowing her to spend so much time on school business.”