IT WAS a weekend 100 years in the making when Wamoon Public School marked its 100th anniversary on the weekend.
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The school was officially opened in September, 1915 and was the result of a petition that was started by some of the first farmers of the new Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area.
Just one building was constructed in the early years at Wamoon Public, but the facility has changed plenty over the past 100 years and educated countless numbers of students.
Hundreds of residents turned out over the long weekend to celebrate the centenary, with a dinner held on Saturday night before a day of activities and events at the school on Sunday.
Wamoon Public principal Chris George said there were many moments that highlighted the significance of the milestone throughout the weekend.
“We had the two oldest living former students there on Sunday, which was a special touch,” he said.
“It was great to see people catching up and reminiscing about old times and their memories of the school.
“We had big crowds throughout the weekend. There would have been about 400 at the school on Sunday about over 100 at the dinner.
“Everything went to plan and it was a great way to celebrate the centenary.”
Since Wamoon Public opened its doors there have been many changes along the way, not just how the school looks, but the way students are taught.
“That was one of the things people were commenting on during the weekend,” Mr George said.
“They were saying how different it was. Technology has made a huge difference.
“The school started off with just one building that sometimes had up to 90 students.
“Now we’ve got the three buildings.”
As part of the activities at the school there were open classrooms, with different rooms playing host to eras from years gone by.
One room was set up with information and memorabilia from 1915 to the 1950s, a second from the 1950s to the 1980s and the third from the 1980s up until now.
“The 1915 to the 1950s rooms generated a lot of talk and feedback,” Mr George said.
“Some of the people there on the weekend hadn’t been back to the school for more than 50 years.
“It was great to see everyone sharing their memories of Wamoon.
“That was the aim of the whole weekend.”
A specially-made centenary book also sold out on the day.
Mr George thanked those involved with the organisation of the centenary celebrations and those that attended across the weekend.