Education Minister James Merlino visited the school to unveil its latest facility, which featured four new classrooms and two specialist rooms for students in years three to six.

Former school principal Kate Harney said the learning hub was the first build she had overseen in a school during her long career in education.

“I just could not imagine the students and teachers on the first day of this year and how excited you all were when you came into this building,” she said. 

“We watched it all year. We were excited. We tiptoed around in here because we couldn’t touch anything and look at it today.” 

The state government and the Catholic Education Office both contributed $500,000 to the $1.2 million project.

The school provided the remainder of the funding.

Ms Harney said she still had vivid memories of when Josephite nuns were teaching at the school and of the large working bees undertaken by parents and grandparents.

“We didn’t have funding then. We are so lucky today,” she said.

“I have seen a huge development in this school over the years. This ensures catholic education in Stawell is strong.”

Ms Harney’s connection to St Patrick’s Primary dated back to the 1920s when her father and his brothers and cousins attended the school.

She taught at the school in the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s and returned in 2012 to lead as principal. 

“I had a member of my family attend this school in every decade over the past 90 years and I am extremely proud of where the school is today,” she said. 

Mr Merlino said the future of St Patrick’s Primary was bright.

He said he was honoured to officially unveil the school’s new learning hub.

“Non-government schools are an important part of Victoria’s education system with more than one third of Victorian students studying in Catholic or independent schools,” he said. 

“We need to make sure our funding is targeted where it is needed most, these upgrades will make a real difference for students at St Patrick’s.”