It’s been 125 years since the first cohort of Proserpine State School students began lessons on a vastly different school campus to the one the township knows today.
Over a century on from those days, the local primary school will celebrate its momentous 125th anniversary this weekend with a School Fete, where it will remember its long history.
The school opened the very same year as the completed construction and first sugar season of the Proserpine Mill – an event which undoubtedly heralded the beginning of modern Proserpine.
It has seen countless students pass through its doors.
Julianne O’Brien is just one local for whom the school holds special significance; it has been a home away from home for four generations of her family.
“My mother worked as a teacher here for fifteen years before I started as a student at the Primary School in 1964,” Ms O’Brien said.
“I finished year seven here and came back as a teacher myself in 1984, working until about 2014 – I’ve been at this school a long time. While I was teaching, my son came to this school, too.
“It has changed so much, and it’s just constantly changing. I’m glad my granddaughter Lily [O’Brien] gets to experience the benefit of all that change now that she’s here in her first year of prep.”
Ms O’Brien will be just one of the ex-students taking part in the festivities for the school’s celebratory fete on Saturday, September 3. She’ll watch on as the school cuts a 125-year cake, hosts choirs, and old-fashioned games, as well as bands and food vans.
But she’s most excited about the Proserpine Historical Society display on the day: a classroom styled in the fashion of when she herself was a teacher and a student.
“I’ve got some memorabilia for that. I’ll be bringing along some of my son’s work from when he was in grade one, which I notice is still the same basic work as Lily is doing now she’s in the same grade!” Ms O’Brien said.
“Some things never change.”
The event starts at 2.30pm with an official opening ceremony and will feature school tours alongside other activities, including a firework display. The school will be producing a book which collates its 125-year history as well, which will be purchasable at the event.
Wilmar Sugar will be hosting their own display at the event to commemorate their 125th anniversary, too.
“This school has been my whole life, and my mother’s whole life. Four generations of O’Briens have been at this school; I think it speaks for itself,” Ms O’Brien said.
Lily said she wants to grow up to be a teacher, too.
Lily and Julianne O’Brien will be celebrating alongside Proserpine State School for the institutions 125th birthday this weekend
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