School to mark milestone

School principal Cameron Heath with students Josh, 12, with drawing of the original schoolhouse) and Olivia.11, with a school register from 1884). 142087_02

By JESSE GRAHAM

FORMER Healesville Primary School students are being urged to come back to their school to help organise a 150th birthday bash next year.
The school is putting the feelers out for former students, passionate historians and community members to come together to help plan an event for the school’s 150th anniversary.
Assistant principal Rebekah Clarke said a “HPS 150th Committee” would be established in the next few months, to plan out next year’s celebrations.
“This year, what we want to do is get a team together, to look at what we want to do,” she said.
“Possibly to create some sort of book, or memento that could be available, that would contain all of the stories (from the school), or some kind of celebration … a back-to kind of thing, or a bush dance.
“We’re not quite sure, but there’ll be some kind of event that would be open, and encouraging people to come to.”
The decision to set up a committee comes after the all-out celebrations that culminated in November last year for Healesville’s 150th birthday.
As part of the celebrations, events were held celebrating the history of the town – including a parade down the main street, a party in Queens Park and a Heritage Festival.
Though the celebration may not be as large as the town’s birthday bash, Ms Clarke said she was hoping former students and their families could come along and share their stories from the school.
“We’re looking for people who want to be involved in some kind of committee and also people who would have some stories to tell that we could make use of – or pictures, or any sort of reminiscence,” she said.
“Once we get that, it’ll be a bit of a steering committee to look at how we want to celebrate it.”
Anyone interested in joining the committee can contact Rebekah Clarke at Healesville Primary School on 5962 4053 until the end of August.