Coles Head of Sponsorship Tony Phillips and Principal Jan Adamson with Grade 2 students Jayde and Shae.
AN OLYMPIC legend hand delivered sports equipment for a new basketball stadium yesterday (Wednesday) after it was gutted by fire in June.
Former Australian sprinter Cathy Freeman, who is also the Coles Sports for Schools ambassador, presented 189 items of sports gear on behalf of Coles Sports for Schools program to the students and teachers of Timbarra P-9 College, who gathered for the first time in the new stadium since it was destroyed by fire on 3 June, a week before it was due to open.
After the fire, principal Jan Adamson said students, teachers and the community were upset but would not let the disaster defeat them.
Determined not to let the fire beat them, the Berwick community rallied together and collected 135,675 Sports of Schools vouchers to help replenish the school’s destroyed sports gear.
“At the time of the fire I said the school would bounce back bigger and better, and we have,” Ms Adamson said.
“The community has really supported us through this program.
“We received vouched in the mail from people all over Victoria who have heard about the fire.”
Ms Adamson said having Cathy Freeman deliver the equipment has created a “buzz” at the school.
“This is a two-way celebration – one is having Catherine here as a (Coles Sports for Schools) ambassador, the second is that it is the first time we will all be together in the new stadium,” Ms Adamson said.
“We couldn’t be happier.”
The official opening of the stadium will be held in conjunction with the City of Casey in May.
