First day jitters disappear as principal Belinda Tregea opens Yarrabilba Secondary College

WATCH THE VIDEO: She will go down in history as the founding principal of one of the state’s most modern high schools. But Belinda Tregea brushed aside first day jitters this morning to open what will grow into one of the southside’s largest colleges.

IT was once considered a rural outpost, far from reliable everyday services, transport and schools.

But today the 4000-strong community of Yarrabilba, 40 minutes south of Brisbane, came of age and opened its first state high school.

State of the art … Yarrabilba’s new high school opened this morning.

Principal Belinda Tregea and Logan MP Linus Power were at the front gate to welcome the new students.

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The $65 million Yarrabilba Secondary College proved more popular than the education department’s number crunchers predicted with 260 year 7 and 8 students sitting at desks in classrooms today.

State of the art workshops and labs at Yarrabilba Secondary.

Over the next four years, numbers are expected to grow to 1800 students across years 7 to 12.

The college is one of eight new schools opening across Queensland today.

Principal Belinda Tregea, a seasoned teacher with more than 30 years’ experience, was not daunted about treading where no person has been before.

Students arrived wearing the new blue and red school uniforms. The name Yarrabilba means ‘place of song’ in the local Wangerriburra/Bundjalung language.

She was not the only one excited about the first day.

Her 34 staff were at the front gate early, ready to welcome their new charges and take parents and local politicians on guided tours of the state-of-the-art buildings.

Mrs Tregea (rhymes with reggae) said there was something thrilling about starting from scratch.

“This is an opportunity for us to ‘do school differently’ to better meet the needs and interests of our students,” she said.

“It has been a career dream of mine to be able to choose my own leadership team, teaching and support staff.”

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Logan City Council candidate for the area Laurie Koranski said it would save many students from travelling huge distances.

Yarrabilba means ‘place of song’ in the local Wangerriburra/Bundjalung language.

“This will meet the demand and the community’s wishes,” she said.

A pristine information services building, a gleaming general learning building, science centre, sports hall, hospitality centre and technology centre will all be ready today.

Stage Two includes a senior technology centre, art and design studios, a senior general learning centre, music and a performing arts block.

They are expected to be completed next year.

Reshaping learning and breaking the mould will forefront for Mrs Tregea, who is going to promote some outdoor learning away from electronic devices.

All new.

“Society’s obsession with electronic devices will need to change and we will need to engage more with nature to improve wellbeing and raise awareness of the importance of sustainable living and recycling to reduce landfill and pollution,” she said.

The school’s location and extensive college grounds will allow teachers to take classes outdoors to give students hands-on lessons.

Yarrabilba Secondary College has wide open playing fields.

Logan MP Linus Power said he was glad the months of planning and construction were over and the school had opened.

“It was special to watch the students walk through the gates in their new uniforms, and see the facilities for the first time,” he said.

Fortitude Valley State Secondary College will also open along with high schools at Calliope, Mango Hill, Coomera and Ripley Valley, which will also get a new primary school.

A new special school will open in Caboolture.