Northern Bay College comes together following devastating fire allegedly lit by 13-yer-old

A pair of Northern Bay College mums are raising funds for school supplies in the wake of a fire that left their children “devastated”.

Shawn, 9, Olivia, 9 and Ethan, 11, outside Northern Bay College’s Hendy St campus that was damaged by a suspicious fire this week. Picture: Alison Wynd.

Northern Bay College parents have launched a fundraiser to help children who lost stationery and supplies in a fire that has forced students to study at another site.

Emma Beecroft and Amanda Anderson are selling hair accessories and collecting library books in the wake of the fire that burned through the school in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

A 13-year-old girl is expected to be charged on summons in relation to the fire.

The mums are selling “unique” Northern Bay College bows, with all profits to be spent on stationary and supplies.

Ms Anderson is founder of Alivia Grace Bows, which is named after her eldest daughter.

Donations are also being accepted, as are second-hand books.

Sisters Thani, 9, and Alice, 7, outside their school Northern Bay College’s Hendy St campus. Picture: Alison Wynd

Ms Beecroft said the idea stemmed from her daughter’s reaction to news of the fire.

“She burst into tears, absolutely devastated,” she said.

“Mostly because all her scrapbooking and work they’d been working on had been destroyed in the fire.”

Ms Beecroft said he daughter was also concerned about what Hendy St teachers had lost in the fire.

“The teachers do supply a lot out of their own pockets,” she said.

“She said to me, ‘Mum, we have to do something to help’, so we are.”

Staff speak with police after a fire caused significant damage to the Hendy St Northern Bay school campus. Picture: Alison Wynd

The fundraiser was launched on Wednesday and has so far raised more than $200 and collected many boxes of books.

“Everything will be donated to the school once the school is able to accept them,” Ms Beecroft said.

A Department of Education spokeswoman confirmed the campus would remain closed for at least the remainder of this week as clean-up works continued.

The spokeswoman said arrangements were in place for staff and students to attend the school’s Peacock campus.

Originally published as Northern Bay College comes together following devastating fire allegedly lit by 13-yer-old