When a country town's last school is shut it can affect the entire growth potential and population of a place.
For Tantanoola in South Australia's south-east, the recent announcement from the Minister for Education that their primary school will be closed has come as a huge blow.
The Mayor of Wattle Range Council, which oversees the township of Tantanoola, Des Noll, said the news was deeply saddening.
"Any education facility in the Wattle Range Council area is extremely important for our young people," Mayor Noll said.
"It's important for our communities because that's how they grow as a community, that's how they develop."
The Education Department suspended the service of the school for 2020 due to there being no students enrolled at the beginning of the school year.
A review committee completed an extensive review of present and future requirements of primary education in the area, with a majority voting to close the school
Education Minister John Gardner said the decision did not come lightly.
"The committee heard from local families and community members to find out what really matters to them when it comes to delivering education and supporting young people in the region," Minister Gardner said.
"We will continue to support young families living in Tantanoola so that local children have access to high quality education when they are ready to attend school."
The Education Department flagged the opportunity for families to travel to regional centres like Millicent for education services, although Cr Noll said this is the concern.
"Perhaps it's a sign of the times. People are not living in smaller communities, they're living in major regional centres, and the smaller communities are finding it more difficult," Cr Noll said.
He said other primary schools in the area may be at risk as well due to low enrolment numbers, and concern for the closure of other primary schools is real.
"I'm very concerned because we have other primary schools throughout the Wattle Range Council area where the numbers are low and I'm fearful that this this might occur in other communities," Cr Noll said.
Preschool services continue
But it is not all bad news.
For the town of Nangwarry, their battle to secure preschool services for the next year has been successful.
Principal of the Nangwarry Primary School, Erika Hurley, said it was looking positive.
"We're hoping to have a service next year to supply preschool services to the local community and surrounds," Ms Hurley said.
The school is urging anyone with a child that turns four and is interested in using preschool services to come along to register their child so the school can meet required enrolment numbers.
"There is a minimum required for us to access preschool teacher funding," Ms Hurley said.
The preschool hopes to provide services twice a week for children in Nangwarry.
