Community
26 May, 2023
Teaching children for 100 years
School overlooking canefields and railway line marks its centenary today
FRESHWATER State School celebrates 100 years today and tomorrow.
The activities start with a special school assembly today at 2pm, school tour and morning tea tomorrow at 11am and an adults-only cocktail party tomorrow night from 6.30pm. Former teacher’s aide Julie Young has fond memories at the school.
“Our family relationship with Freshwater SS started in 1995 when our daughter Jessica started preschool, Meg in 1996 and Nicholas began in 1998. Back in those days, children only attended either the morning or afternoon classes with Mrs Carleen de Jong and Mrs Donna Roxby,” she said.
“During that time, I made the really silly mistake of suggesting to Linden Parsons (our amazing fete convenor and head cleaner) that the fete needed a fairy stall. She said, ‘Great idea. Go ahead.
“It started small, but I soon realised that I needed to recruit other Freshie mums.
“Best friends were made, our home filled with glitter, sequins and tulle on many craft mornings. After all, Freshie is a community not just a school.
“In 1999 I became the P&C secretary. Once a month we put aside our Monday night and did not expect to get home until after 10pm.
“I continued in that role for seven years, seeing many presidents and vice-presidents: Don Taylor, Ray Gardiner, Bruce Ollison, Steve Wettenhall (state MP) and Jim Henry (who went on to become a Supreme Court Judge), just to name a few.
“After the 2001 fire that destroyed an entire school block, I took a six-week casual teacher aide contract that changed my life.
“I learned so much from the many teachers I’ve had the privilege of working with, but special mention to Jenni McDonald and Coral Swan for giving me the ‘tools’ to help kids learn.
“David and I left Cairns in 2016 and moved to Newcastle, and I took those skills to my new school in Karuah.
“I love my job, and now go to excursions in places like Sydney and Port Stephens, thanks to Freshie.”
Former student Ron Gallo (1941-1947) said he remembered the school as a solitary building surrounded by a small playground, Blady grass and scrub crowding in from the fence line beside a rutted twowheeled track through the bush.
“It is rather hard to imagine, but this is how I remember Freshwater school when I began my long ago school days in 1941.
Corkill Street was just a two-wheeled track and old Smithfield Road was a dirt road. I grew up in Maree St and walked daily to and from school,” he said.
“The single building consisted of one large room partitioned into two smaller rooms by folding doors”.
School principal Sharon Jones said the 100 year celebrations were, not just for the school community, but for everyone in the suburb and beyond.
Earlier this month she gave a ‘shout out’ on Facebook issuing a general invitation to the gala event on this Saturday from 6.30pm.
“It is open to everybody, staff, parents, past pupils,” she said.
Ms Jones said the event included food, a band with music from 6.30pm-8.30pm and a DJ from 8.30pm-11.30pm.
“It will be a wonderful night to mingle, share stores and meet new friends in our wonderful community,” she said.
