Pride as Meredith Primary School turns 150

THE Meredith Primary School community marked the institution’s one-hundred-and-fiftieth anniversary earlier this month.

Principal Lachlan Day said the afternoon and evening of celebration on Friday 13 December began with an official ceremony with 350 to 400 people, where all past and present people involved with the school were invited back on campus.

“We had people who were great grandparents of students at the school attending, some previous principals, and old teachers from the school who also had relatives who had worked at the school,” he said.

“The kids did wonderful performance up on the decking in front of the audience, and we opened up our bluestone building which is constructed out of the old Lethbridge bluestone from down the road.

“We had a digital display in there of historical photos of the school from over the 150 years as well. The community were able to meander through there.

“The community feel on the night was incredible with a real buzz. It was very much a celebration.”

A bush dance and band got more-than 400 attendees up and moving between 5pm and 7pm, and the night had a festival feel with food stalls, a barbecue by Meredith Cricket Club, dancing and singing.

“It was an all-inclusive community event,” Mr Day said.

“We had some current families, past families, and others connected purchase bricks for a new entryway to the school which we constructed before the day, and we brought back the original flagpole from the school which was also used in the 100th anniversary commemorative service.”

Students have been provided with special 150th year polo tops, with the names of staff and students, and school values on them.

“One of our school values is pride and that was hugely evident on Friday,” Mr Day said.

“To see people reconnecting with the school was amazing. There were quite a number of ederly people who came along to the service and told many, many stories.

“You could see them beaming when they recognised someone’s face from many decades ago.

“There were also stories of people who went through school together, ended up getting married and coming back at age 75 and sharing that experience.”