The bus was purchased with the help of the community and Variety-the Children’s Charity. Fundraising began in 2015 under then P&C president Vanessa Knight whose son, Thomas was attending the school. 

In that year alone, $55,000 was raised through fundraising activities including golf days, raffles and cabaret show Chambre Rouge. The remaining funds were raised in 2016.

“Last year, after all the fundraising, we managed to get $65,000. Then Variety said, ‘Okay, we’ll chip in $20,000 and pay for on-road costs and stuff like that,” school principal Sharne Turpin said.

The students could barely contain their excitement when they saw the bus for the first time on Wednesday morning and enjoyed a trip around the car park before returning to class. Staff, P&C members and parents also turned out for the special occasion.

“It didn’t feel real but we’re very excited because now we’ve got a lot more freedom and we’ll save a lot of money in hiring other buses. And because we’ve got a lot of excursions – community-based learning – it’s a lot safer to go in one vehicle with two staff members and the kids and stay together as a group,” Ms Turpin said.

“There are a lot more activities they can access.”

Each day students head downtown to learn life skills such as pedestrian safety, how to use a shopping list, and find out more about community service providers, such as the police and fire brigade. They also participate in Riding for the Disabled once a fortnight and travel to Newcastle once a year to watch a football game.

Though Thomas Knight graduated from the school in 2016, Mrs Knight and her daughter Jess were among those who gathered to watch the bus arrive.

Mrs Knight said she thought a mini-bus was necessary because of “the high cost of public transport and the lack of public transport” and the "real need” for students in wheelchairs.

Parent Katrina King said the flexibility was a real plus.

“It gives them the mobility to go where they want to, when they want to,” she said.

“It’s a great asset for the school.”

Student Shayne Williams said it was “the best day ever”.

Ms Turpin said she was extremely grateful to the community.

“Thank you to the community for their support; otherwise we wouldn’t have got the bus,” she said.