FORMER Eungai Public School student Tavis Hall sang of "the ruin of many a poor boy" in a brief yet accomplished rendition as the local community came together on Friday to celebrate the christening of the school's new performance hall.
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As Tavis belted out House of the Rising Sun, the audience of primary school children, proud parents, school staff and members of the wider community rejoiced in a long battle that had been won on the beachfront of belief.
Principal Tony Buckley said the school community had been agitating for a hall since 2009. Funding duly flowed through the Building the Education Revolution, but it was for two new classrooms.
While the new rooms were "fantastic, it was not what the families wanted", Tony said.
Undeterred, the school community put a hall committee together, supported by the P&C, and the fundraising campaign began.
"We knew it was a long shot but we wrote letters to anyone who wanted to listen," Tony said.
Piece by beam and joist, the venture gathered momentum, with contributions by State and Federal governments, businesses and contributions by the local community.
Tony said there were two watershed moments: a fundraiser at Unkya Reserve that raised $30,000 in a single weekend, and, an out of the blue phone call from one of Australia's most influential broadcasters.
Ray Hadley, whose family has strong connections with Eungai, somehow got wind of the initiative and gave Tony "the gift" of being able to organise fundraising on the back of the popularity of the radio show.
The rest, as they say, is history, and Eungai Public has a modern, well equipped hall to showcase the creative talents of their 60-odd students.
The cost - on the back of labour by locals - came in at a smidge over $150,000 as the school looked to maximise its bang for buck (including the perhaps unique situation where the school project managed the build).
"Dare to dream and follow that dream through because you may just get what you want," Tony told the crowd before Oxley MP Andrew Stoner snipped the ceremonial ribbon.
Tony ensured the opening was light on speeches and heavy on performance - including two former students who have gone on and just completed their HSC. Before Tavis tackled the iconic Animals hit, Lauren Buckley delighted with a series of tracks on keyboard.
Then it was time for the current student crop to take the stage, including the school's rock band, dance troupe and finally, a massed choir.
Mr Stoner reflected on the value of a community united: "When you bring about a team effort and everyone pulls their weight, things happen."
* Enjoy the photo gallery from the opening.
