By Michael Doran
Yarra Glen Primary School is having an ‘Official Celebration Assembly’ on Friday 7 December to commemorate its 150th Anniversary. The school, which started as Yarra Flats Common School No. 956, officially opened on 1 April 1868, two years after classes started.
Acting Principal Gerard Fay said the response from past students and former staff has been really positive and he hopes many more will make it on the day.
“A lot of people who have been connected to the school are looking forward to the opportunity of catching up with friends and colleagues,” he said.
Starting at 2.30pm, the ceremony opens with the formal assembly, presentations, cake cutting and photos, followed by refreshments.
“All of the schools 160 students and the staff will receive a 150th Commemorative pin and photo and a special plaque will be unveiled.
“There is also a memorabilia display and in a fundraising effort people can purchase an inscribed paver that will go in the playground area.”
The original one-room school was located on what is now Melba Highway and a new school was erected in 1878 on the current site. Perhaps as a forerunner to Men’s Sheds, the old school building was used as a meeting room for men before being relocated to Gulf Station.
The school has a set of historical papers, currently are on long-term loan to the State Library of Victoria. The collection relates to novelist,Joseph Furphy who was born at Yering Station in 1843 and wrote the novel, Such is Life. His mentor, Kate Baker, was a teacher in country Victoria and it was her who presented the collection to the school in 1934.
The saying it’s a furphy, used colloquially for a tall story, can be traced back to the Furphy family and the use of their water-carts as a meeting point where stories were swapped in world war one.
To help with catering the school has asked people coming to ring 9730 1254 to RSVP or at yarra.glen.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au and welcomes all members of the community to join them on the day.
