ALL OF us appreciate a warm reception – whether a sports- man or woman, a star of the silver screen or stage or just a person coming home to the family hearth after a day's hard work.

Politicians are no exception, so it was little wonder that Justine Elliot, the Federal Member for Richmond, was sporting a huge smile when she visited Bogangar Public School yesterday to officially open the school's $1.85 million Building Education Revolution (BER) projects.

Ms Elliot received a film star-style welcome from principal Cath Lalor, staff, parents and all 264 pupils.

The children, waving Australian flags, provided a guard of honour for Ms Elliot as she walked to the school's brand-spanking-new block which housed two classrooms and a computer lab.

Prior to unveiling a plaque to commemorate the official opening Ms Elliott listened to a superb rendition of Fire- flies by the school choir, a welcome to Bundjalung Country from Aboriginal student Jermaine Curtis-Green, and then sang along lustily to the National Anthem.

Following a short address by the principal, Ms Elliot, aided by school captains, Karnie Jennar and Jaden Greenwood lifted an Australian flag covering the plaque and then it was off to the canteen for coffee and cakes for guests and the classroom for pupils and teachers.

“I never tire of this,” said an obviously delighted Ms Elliot – referring, of course, to the welcome, not the prospect of eating a cake!