Commemoration event to mark school’s legacy

MORE than a century’s worth of schooling is set to be commemorated tomorrow with members of the St Brendan’s Primary School community to see the institution off prior to its impending closure.

With the doors permanently shutting on the more than 160-year-old school following low enrolment numbers, everyone is invited to join in celebrating the school’s legacy and history.

School principal Inez French said the event is about bringing the past and present of St Brendan’s together.

“It’s important to recognise the generations in the past that helped build the school to what it is today as well as our families that are currently here,” she said. “It’s a melding of the whole lot.

“It’s got a huge history and a really interesting story so it’s really important for our families at Dunnstown to recognise Catholic education’s been a vibrant part of the school community for a long time.”

From 2pm attendees will be able to walk through the school while memorabilia will be displayed at a central location within the building.

Facepainting, sporting activities, afternoon tea, and a carvery dinner will also take place while past students and staff will deliver speeches as part of the official proceedings at 5.30pm.

The event is set to end with a two-hour performance from Dunnstown-based band Old Melbourne Road.

Ms French, who’s been with the school for a decade and spent four years in the top role, said she’s looking forward to hearing anecdotes about St Brendan’s past.

“I’m excited to meet the people I don’t know and to hear their stories. It’ll be very exciting,” she said.

“It’s been fun going through all the photos that the community has sent through. It’ll be nice to see people catching up with each other and celebrating.

“Saturday’s going to be busy and noisy and fun. We’ll do something as well for the last day but that’ll be more of an intimate affair for our current families.”