Historical information

Before her marriage to Ron Kirner, Joan Hood taught at the Ballarat Girls' Junior Technical School in the late 1950s. The Girls' school was a division of the Ballarat School of Mines.

After entering politics Joan Kirner was Minister for Education (1988) and Premier of Victoria (1990 to 1992).

In 1992 Premier of Victoria Joan Kirner visited her former workplace to officially open and name four new facilities, marking stage 2 of the school's State Works and Services Development Project. Honoured in the naming ceremony was the late Albert Steane, the late Kenneth Fleckoe and Mr Jack Barker, President of the Ballarat School of Mines. The fourth facility was the recently opened carpentry and joinery complex.
Mrs Kirner said naming the building in honour of the three men would act as a continual reminder of their contribution to education in Australia and what they have passed on to future generations. She said the Government and the State Training Board saw the college as not only one that was most important to Victoria but also nationally and internationally.

Physical description

A group of 5 people walking along Ballarat's Lydiard Street South. The former Ballarat Brewery in the background is in the process of being demolished to make way for an expansion of the SMB campus.

Left to right: Peter Shiells, E.J. (Jack) Barker, Winsome Barker, Premier of Victoria Joan Kirner, Frank Sheehan MLA (Labor State Member for Ballarat South).