mmg.com.au

The opening of the new Toolamba Primary School has been a long and rewarding experience for principal Heather Kennedy.

Ms Kennedy and her team have worked tirelessly for almost three years to rebuild the school after it was destroyed by fire in early 2010.

About 200 students, parents and community members, as well as local and state politicians, gathered today to mark the occasion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Ms Kennedy thanked the children and the community for their patience and support and said she was both nervous and excited about showcasing the results of all their hard work.

‘‘It’s been a new process for me. As far as building a school, that’s a first,’’ Ms Kennedy said.

‘‘It’s like a big orchestra, bringing all the pieces together, but we made it and the school looks fantastic, we’re very proud.’’

‘‘We’ve tried to do our very, very best for the children of Toolamba and the children for years to come.’’

The new facilities include a library, six classrooms and a multipurpose room.

Ms Kennedy said an early-years learning centre was also being developed.

State Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell officially opened the school and said it was a ‘‘fantastic day’’ for the Toolamba community.

‘‘This really is a community that looks to the school as the centre of the community,’’ Ms Lovell said.

‘‘These new buildings now represent a new community hub for the town and once we get the early-childhood centre established on the site, it’ll be a one-stop educational outcome for the people of Toolamba.’’

‘‘What we’ve gone from is our old-style educational facilities that were ageing to a brand-new, 21st century school.’’