Official opening of new Toodyay high school

30/11/94

The new $3.3 million Toodyay District High School - rebuilt from the ashes of last year's devastating fire - has been officially opened.

Education Minister Norman Moore attended the opening ceremony today and praised the community spirit and dedication which enabled the successful re-birth of the school.

Mr Moore said the whole Toodyay community had worked together, from the day after the fire on Sunday, May 23, to re-establish the school. There had also been considerable community input to the planning process.

The fire - thought to have been deliberately lit - caused about $2.5 million damage, destroying 12 classrooms, the home economics room, the business education/computing room and administration and staff facilities.

After the fire, the school's 400 students were re-located for nearly two months in temporary accommodation at the town's fire station, the local church hall and the Toodyay racecourse.

The dedication and cooperation between the local community, the Education Department, the Building Management Authority, the Building company (Universal Constructions) and the school staff and students, saw new facilities available for use on the anniversary of the fire.

"The re-birth of Toodyay District High School is an incredible success story and powerful evidence of the strength of community spirit in this district," Mr Moore said.

"The Parents' and Citizen's Association did considerable work to raise funds to re-equip the school and the whole community can be proud of today's achievement."

Other major contributions came from Parents' and Citizen's Association across the State and from the Toodyay Shire Council.

The Minister thanked everyone involved for their considerable efforts and said the Toodyay community had grown closer and stronger in the face of the adversity caused by the fire.

Media contact: Ross Storey  321 1444    222 9595