UPDATED
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The annual tradition of the school photo will continue for some families after Premier Daniel Andrews lifted restrictions on school photos on Sunday.
Delacombe Primary School was one of the first in the state to have children line up for their school photos on Tuesday, having just last week cancelled their 2020 school photo day for the third time when the restrictions were still in force.
The school had originally planned a photo day with MSP on Monday, which was cancelled, but was able to rebook at very short notice for Tuesday for individual shots of pupils in grades 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
They had made alternative arrangements for grade prep, grade six and class photos to be taken next week.
School photography companies were run off their feet on Monday with schools trying to rebook photo days during last term.
Premier Andrews announced on Sunday that school photos could now take place either outdoors or indoors for schools in regional Victoria, and outdoors only for schools in metropolitan Melbourne.
Masks can be removed for the photo.
SCHOOL PHOTO SESSIONS BANNED AS COVID RESTRICTIONS REMAIN
Thousands of families will go without the annual school photo of their children with school photography still banned under COVID restrictions.
For families with children in prep and year six it will be a particularly big gap in the family album - a rite of passage that will not occur.
While some schools had bookings during term one for individual portraits and class shots, most schools had bookings with school photography companies during terms two and three when COVID forced families in to remote learning, or during term four while non-essential school visitors are still banned.
Lauren Powell's son Ollie is in prep at Delacombe Primary School and she is disappointed that school photos have been cancelled for a third time.
"School photos are an important memento of life at school and seeing their progress through school in that regard," Ms Powell said.
"It's being able to look back on those memories, especially the group photos of classes when you remember who you were with at school."
While she has photos taken on Ollie's first day of school, Ms Powell says it's not the same as having the professionally posed school portrait and class photo.
Photo days booked at Ollie's school fell during the first and second lockdowns and the state government confirmed on Friday that school photos were not allowed under current restrictions.
"We're incredibly proud of the efforts put in by all Victorians in the battle against this pandemic. The restrictions are in place to bring down cases to as low as possible to reduce the risk of transmission," a DHHS spokesperson said.
"Visitors to school grounds are limited to those delivering or supporting essential school services and operations, including student health and wellbeing services, safety, cleaning and maintenance workers to reduce the movement of people to an absolute minimum."
School photography would be allowed under the last step of the state's roadmap to recovery but it is likely to be too late in the term for photos to be taken.
IN OTHER NEWS
Ballarat parents have also jumped on board a change.org petition calling for school photographers to be allowed on school grounds.
School photo companies say they have appropriate measures in place to ensure their staff complete daily health checks before starting each day, have created touch-free photographic processes and can maintain social distancing during their work.
If you are seeing this message you are a loyal digital subscriber to The Courier, as we made this story available only to subscribers. Thank you very much for your support and allowing us to continue telling Ballarat's story. We appreciate your support of journalism in our great city.