General News
28 October, 2024
Hundreds back in classroom for 150th
HUNDREDS of former students and teachers were back in the classroom at Tarnagulla Primary School on Saturday. Ellise Chapman and Elissa Wilson once more tried their hand at ringing the school bell for former principal Garry Larvas as the 150th...
HUNDREDS of former students and teachers were back in the classroom at Tarnagulla Primary School on Saturday.
Ellise Chapman and Elissa Wilson once more tried their hand at ringing the school bell for former principal Garry Larvas as the 150th anniversary celebrations were in full swing.
Mary Dridan, 97, was the oldest ex-student to return. She spent many hours in conversation with former class friends and today’s Tarnagulla students.
“I started here in 1933. I was only five although I did attend school for a few days the previous year,” Mary said.
“They were good days and I always liked school. The teachers were very strict and there was one who had a strap that he used fairly often and some of the boys used to have some good fisticuffs ... that kept things lively.”
Mary completed her schooling at Tarnagulla before working in the office at Maryborough Knitting Mill. She married and has now lived at Amphitheatre for more than 50 years.
“My mum and family still lived here, so I have always kept in touch,” she said.
“It’s good to come back today and also spend time with a few of the family. “
Mary was given the honour of cutting the anniversary cake.
Jack Harwood, now 92, was the oldest ex-boy to attend Saturday’s big reunion assembly at the school and luncheon at the town’s hall.
He had attended school as a youngster before spending 52 years as a plasterer in Maryborough and Bendigo.
Another of the famous old boys back in the school yard was champion cyclist from the 1960s Terry Stone.
Among younger generations was Sam Wright who picked up a reprint copy of the school’s Tarnagulla Times newsletter from the 1990s, an edition that included a story of one of his school excursions.
Class photographs through the decades were on display at the school along with students’ work and their class books
Principal Leigh Mellberg and teacher Brianne Gleisner were assisted by staff and parents in organising the day. Inglewood Lions Club cooked the barbecue lunch.
Tarnagulla Primary School has an enrolment of 25 this year.