Portarlington Primary School celebrates 150 years

PORTARLINGTON Primary School has celebrated its 150-year birthday with festivities that bought past and present school community members come together.

The celebration, held on October 20, was marked with old fashioned clothes and games, a parade, and a round of Happy Birthday.

The primary school’s principal Lesley-Ann Allbutt said the event was “a very proud and happy time”.

“It is an absolute privilege to be celebrating 150 years of education at Portarlington Primary in our tight knit little seaside village.

“Children, community, staff and families have worked hard to make our school what it is today and what it will be for future generations.

“To know that we have continued 150 years of education for thousands of children is extraordinary.”

Portarlington Primary School’s oldest living pupil, 99-year-old Mavis Willey, was also present for the birthday celebration, along with Corangamite federal member Libby Coker and Bellarine MP
Alison Marchant.

With the school first opening in 1873, Portarlington Primary has been home to many generations of students, several within the same family.

Ms Willey’s children as well as some of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren also attended the primary school, as does her great-great-granddaughter Sadie, who is presently in Grade 5.
“To have five generations of the one family still living in Portarlington and to have Sadie in Grade 5 has been an exceptional milestone,” Ms Allbutt said.

“We don’t just enrol children, we enrol families.

“I know how our community feel about our town and our history and we all feel so proud of Portarlington and our school.”

It is a pride the primary school hopes to be able to carry forward into its next 150 years.

“So much has changed from using ink wells and girls having a one hour sewing lesson every day,” Ms Allbutt said.

“We are an inclusive school and know that any gender, range of ability, cultural or religious background will have access to education and learning programs.

“It is our mission that everyone who walks out the door of our school is a better person for being at Portarlington Primary.”