The company said goodbye with a $125,000 donation to Port Fairy’s two schools and early years program.

The pharmaceutical company officially changed ownership to Sun Pharmaceuticals Australia on Monday.

St Patrick’s Primary School and Consolidated Primary School both received $50,000 each and the Port Fairy Community Services Early years Program was gifted $25,000.

Site director Darby Lee said the company had been an important part of Port Fairy for 95 years.

“We’ve had a presence here for a very long time,” he said.

“Glaxo has been good to Port Fairy, but the community has been very supportive of us as well.”

Mr Lee said the company had decided the donations were the perfect parting gift.

“The best way to say thanks is is to support the kids in this town,” he said.

Port Fairy Consolidated acting principal Cynthia McLaren said the donation was fantastic.

“Glaxo has always been a fantastic supporter of our school and the community,” she said.

“This $50,000 is a huge bonus. It’s such an amazing amount of money to use for something substantial.” 

St Patrick’s Primary School Port Fairy principal Sue Paulka said the donation was a wonderful surprise.

“It’s not often a school would get a donation of that size with no restrictions,” Mrs Paulka said.

The school will use the money for a capital project.

“We may build a shelter or undercover area,” Mrs Paulka said.

“We are extremely grateful to Glaxo. 

“It was a wonderful surprise.”

Internal operations will remain the same at Sun Pharmaceuticals with all jobs at the Port Fairy site secure. 

New contracts will be offered to all workers, with no changes to existing conditions.

The sale of GSK to Sun Pharmaceuticals secures the Port Fairy site’s long-term future.

Sun Pharmaceuticals gains the rights to all GSK's raw opiate products and inventory.

Painkillers made from poppy-derived opiate raw materials are produced at the Port Fairy factory and the company holds a significant reputation abroad.