General News
5 November, 2024
Natte Yallock Primary School marks 150 years
Saturday will be a landmark occasion for the Natte Yallock community as the local primary school will commemorate its 150th anniversary alongside former staff and students.
Celebrations will commence at 11 am with a light lunch, free tea and coffee supplied by the Pyrenees Community House and the Pyrenees Mobile Library providing entertainment before the opening ceremony at 2 pm.
The school will also unveil a commemorative plaque and open a time capsule placed as part of the 125th anniversary back in 1999.
Following the historic event, visitors are invited to the Natte Yallock Recreation Reserve for a barbecue and some musical entertainment.
Natte Yallock Primary School acting principal Emily Fithall said the community is excited to honour the historic occasion.
“It has been really lovely to see what a supportive community there is and you can tell [the community] has loved this school for a very long time,” she said.
“We have organised lots of memorabilia, some ladies have been really busy looking through all of the photos and even their personal collections so there will be lots on display.
“Our three students have been excited too — they have created bookmarks for the showbags and are looking forward to the event.”
Natte Yallock State School No.1347 opened on January 1, 1874 and first enrolled pupils on May 12 following the removal of the rural school system.
The school originally remained at the slab huts of the old Rural School No.24 before being temporarily relocated to the Wesleyan Chapel, and then occupying a permanent building on February 23, 1877.
The event has been organised by a committee consisting of former staff, students, and community members who have seen generations of their families take their first lessons on school grounds.
Ms Fithall said being a part of the committee has developed a greater appreciation for the school.
“I only started here officially last term, so being on the 150th committee has connected me with the people involved with this school for so long,” she said.
“Their knowledge and stories have just been amazing and it’s allowed me to see how special [the school] is and the connections everyone has got.”
Fellow event committee member Kerri Weir, alongside Marg Pilgrim, has created a book documenting the last 25 years of the school’s history for the event, and said community involvement is what makes Natte Yallock Primary School so special.
“A lot of us have had family come through here — I’ve had my husband and my three children come through and I taught here for over 30 years, so for us it’s not just a school, it’s a part of our families,” she said.
“We were able to develop so many programs that develop student’s leadership skills and public speaking and include parents in their learning with our family camps.
“We celebrated the 100th, and the 125th so it would be a shame to let the 150th go by without some sort of celebration.”
While reflecting on the school’s impact on her family who all attended Natte Yallock Primary School, event committee member Kylie Mortlock said she is proud of how the school has encouraged former students to make a positive impact on the local area.
“It’s not just about the education, but also about the way they develop into young adults and how they contribute back to the community,” she said.
“The education and the opportunities that we have given the students over the last 150 years [has allowed them] to go on and be really good people in our community.”