The fire that tore through Deniliquin High School has left behind more than charred buildings, it has taken with it decades of memories, achievements, and personal treasures that cannot be replaced.
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And standing at the side of the road watching it all go up in flames on Saturday morning was principal Glen Warren.
He was one of a number of teachers and community members who arrived at the school as a fire took hold just before 1am.
Despite an overwhelming feeling of ‘what can I do?’, he said he just sparked into action, helping support emergency services in any way he could.
And he said helpers continued to arrive throughout the night and into the next day, offering comfort and assistance.
“It was devastating to see; just standing there watching the school burn down was pretty bad.
“I felt like I needed to be doing something, so we set up a marquee for the firefighters and ran air tanks back and forward to support them.
“Their efforts were outstanding. Without them, we probably would have lost the whole school.
“There were people everywhere, dropping by, passing through, offering support straight away.
“It was heart-warming, but also difficult to comprehend because the school was still burning.”
Emergency services fought the blaze from Henry St and Wellington St, with teachers and community members helping to ensure they had the equipment they needed.
While the fire brigade’s work saved parts of the campus, the loss of irreplaceable history weighs heavily.
“It’s stuff you can’t replace - our cabinet of great achievements, our past alumni records, all of our magazines from across the years.
“But while the physical history is gone, it’s not forgotten.
“We’re part of the community, and the community knows what we’ve achieved.
“I’m sure people will pull together to help us rebuild that story.”
The emotional toll on staff has been immense.
Some have lost everything from their staff rooms, including one teacher who had worked in the same space for 35 years.
Mr Warren acknowledged the trauma and the importance of supporting his team.
“It’s pretty much like your home has burnt down. The department has wrapped around us with support, bringing in counselling services and the Employee Assistance Program.
“We know it’s traumatic, and the impact on individuals is not going unnoticed.
“But the most important thing is that everyone is safe. Buildings can be rebuilt, we’re lucky no-one was seriously injured.”
The community response has been immediate and heartfelt.
NSW Department of Education Deniliquin Network director of education leadership Derek Noffke said the support has been overwhelming.
“The community support for us and our school has been heart-warming.
“Deniliquin may be a small country town, but the resilience of our students and the generosity of the community has shone through.”
• Anyone requiring crisis support can contact Accessline on 1800 800 944, Lifeline Australia on 13 11 14, BeyondBlue on 1300 224 636 or Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800. Resources and pathways to help are also available at www.denimentalhealth.org.au.
