By Cameron Weston
FLINDERS Street Station was two years old and Williamstown had just been connected to the new telegraph system when the Newport Lakes Primary School first opened its doors in 1856.
And Melbourne Town was surely in its infancy, with John Batman officially founding the city only 20 years before.
The school will celebrate its 150th anniversary this year, and past and present staff and students are gearing up to make sure it becomes an event to remember.
The official launch of the celebrations took place last Friday, with local principals and members of the wider school community, past and present, on hand to show that the community still treasures its seat of learning.
Nola Wright, a reading recovery teacher at Newport Lakes Primary, said there had been an enthusiastic response to the call to join the celebrations.
“We’ve had the most unbelievable response from ex-pupils, some who went to the school as far back as the 1920s.”
“People are really keen to reminisce and look back at their roots,” Ms Wright said.
“It’s a very significant occasion, and people are just so excited and proud.”
Among the plans for the anniversary celebrations are the planting of a commemorative garden and the laying of mosaic paving designed and made by students, under the expert guidance of local artist Kerry Willuweit.
A history of the school, written by former pupil and teacher Ada Ackerley for the 125th birthday celebrations, will be updated to include the events of the past 25 years.
Two 1886 classrooms still stand at the school.
One room will be given over to a historical display which carefully charts the past century-and-a-half at the school.
Mrs Ackerly, who attended the school in the late 1930s, said she was not surprised that so many people were keen to celebrate the anniversary.
“It was a school that had a heart,” she said.
“There was something special about Newport.”
Organisers have planned a grand reunion for November, as the culmination of the anniversary celebrations, and anyone interested in attending is encouraged to contact the school.
