Bindoon Primary School’s 60th Anniversary celebrations were held on Friday 8 August with an open school, assembly and afternoon tea celebrating the proud history of this small school. A number of former students, including some of the school’s first pupils from 1954, and staff attended and seemed delighted to examine the school’s memorabilia, including a copy of the original pupil register.
Speakers at the assembly came from various generations of students who have attended Bindoon Primary School, and entertained the audience with their memories. Mr Lee Martin was one of the first students at the school when it opened in September 1954. We were lucky Lee made the time to speak to the assembly given he had an injured arm. Dawn Kay provided a jaunty trip through her memories of her 52 year association with Bindoon Primary School as a pupil from 1962, later a parent, staff member and grandparent. Cameron Choules, School Captain in 2007, appealed to the younger audience with his memories of school camps, ringing the siren for a whole minute and other mischief he and his mates got up to! Year 1 student, Seth Sevens, brought a smile to everyone as he spoke of the things he loves at Bindoon Primary School. Local MLA Shane Love attended and also spoke at the assembly.
A number of people provided memorabilia for day including former pupils Carolyn Gomersill, David Rickson, Marilyn Morrice, Helen Manning, Tanya Hort, and former teacher Doug Fong.
School Captains Madeline Cram and Lochlan Martin hosted the assembly with style and spoke eloquently! The year 2 class gave a performance of the Banjo Patterson’s poem Mulga Bill’s Bicycle which was said with much gusto. The school choir sang the new Bindoon Primary School song for the first time in public. Congratulations to music teacher Deb Whitely who wrote the words to the song.
Guests enjoyed a delicious afternoon tea, consisting of Bindoon cupcakes and scones and cream, which was served by the Year 6 and 7 students.
There were many who helped out on the day, especially school staff including Katy Fulker who created a power point for the event; Linda Toms and Jen Edwards who helped set up the displays; John Kay who did the heavy lifting, setting up the stage, general help and clearing up; parent Trish Shemeld provided vintage cups and saucers for the afternoon tea and baked the delicious cupcakes; and Year 7 parents donated scones and helped with afternoon teas.
All-in-all it was a successful event!
A number of former students are discussing the possibility of holding a reunion picnic on the school’s oval later this year. Watch this space for updates!
