STAWELL - St Patrick's Catholic Primary School held a special breakfast to celebrate Father's Day.
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The school hall was filled with parents, grandparents, students from prep to grade six and a number of special guests totalling 103.
St Patrick's principal Michael O'Riley said the breakfast was a celebration of the contribution fathers make to the school.
"The main aim of the morning was to thank the dads for all the work they do for us during the year and to wish them a happy Father's Day of course," he said.
"Also these sort of things are a way to build community by bringing everyone together. The children have been so excited for the last four weeks because they knew their dads were coming to have breakfast with them at school, so that has been great for them too."
Some of the special guest that attended the breakfast included State Minister for Education Martin Dixon, Bishop of Ballarat Peter Connors, State Member for Ripon Joe Helper, Director of Catholic Education for Ballarat Audrey Brown and Northern Grampians Shire Mayor, Cr Dorothy Patton.
Mr O'Riley said the school extended invites to other dignitaries but they were unable to make it, however he was thrilled with the other high profiled appearances.
"That was nice that they could come and we had a letter that we read out from Tony Abbott, he went to the trouble of doing that and the others put in an apology so that was all good," he said.
"I certainly had a chance to have a chat to them about funding and current issues in education too, and they're always willing and open to listen to you which is good."
The students also had the opportunity to purchase some last minute gifts for dad at a special Father's Day stall.