Federal Member for the Hunter Joel Fitzgibbon congratulated the students and staff on a wonderful school, comparing the new facilities to what he had as a student.

“When I was in school we didn’t have grass and playing courts,” he explained to the children.

“You have this new classroom, facilities, a fantastic outdoor covered area and you even have your own vineyard.

“It is tremendous to be here today to open the new classroom and to witness first hand, the impact this has had on Broke Public School and the local community.”

Broke Public School received $300,000 for a new classroom under the Primary Schools for the 21st Century and National School Pride program element of the BER.

Mr Fitzgibbon gave credit to the school P&C for their hard work at ensuring the building was to the school’s needs.

The new classroom is for the K1 class and includes an interactive smart board and new computers.

Mr Fitzgibbon took time to interact with the students in the classroom asking questions about his job and telling them about their families.

Mr Fitzgibbon spoke about Parliament House and the Senate with many students asking relevant questions such as employee numbers and the significance of the House of Representatives and the Senate chamber colours.

Students were excited to tell Mr Fitzgibbon about their involvement on their family farms and that the whole school is involved at some level in the school vineyard.

Mr Fitzgibbon said the new facilities would not only benefit the school but would also support stronger social networks and community cohesion.

Mr Fitzgibbon will be involved in a number of other BER project official openings as the roll out of new facilities at local schools continue.