Community & Business
14 August, 2024
150 reasons to smile
Oakey State School students marched into a special public assembly last week as old alumni caught up with long-lost classmates.
It was a special ceremony featuring faces past and present.
Students sat on one side and adults on the other.
In attendance were past principals Dave Bosworth and Graham Lacey, as well as state member Pat Weir.
The Welcome to Country was performed by past student William Thira-Mayinj Haupt, with current student Jahmalakai Isaacs showcasing his talent on the didgeridoo.
Principal Scott Pacey thanked past and present students for attending and said that while trying to go to sleep, he had been reflecting on how Oakey State School had been around for longer than Australia has existed as a country.
Mr Pacey acknowledged the presence of a member from Oakey Army Aviation Centre and reflected that when ‘Oakey Creek’ State School was founded in 1874, Queensland was a Colony of the British Empire, and as such would have had its own armed forces.
“However, to move forward, we must leave the past behind us,” Mr Pacey said.
“I hope that at the 200th anniversary celebration, the students will move from there (the eastern-side of the assembly), to here (the western side, where past students were seated).
Former student Casey Cherry (nee Dearling) spoke about how grateful she was for the education she had received at Oakey State School.
Mrs Cherry said four generations of the Dearling family had attended the school including Stan and Rex Dearling and her children.
Year 5 student Lexi Bedford spoke about how welcoming the school had been to her since she had moved there.
The school’s longest serving staff member Kerry Shepherd said the strength of the culture at the school was one of the reasons why many staff stayed for so long.
She paid tribute to the teachers she had worked with over the years.
Ms Shepherd recounted how former Principal Graham Lacey liked to hand out awards at the end-of-year staff meetings.
Due to Mr Lacey’s wry sense of humour, Ms Shepherd explained, these were often for attributes, characteristics or certain moments that had left an impression on him.
She recounted how one teacher, who had the misfortune of locking a child in the after-school sports centre, received the ‘Skeleton Award”.
Ms Shepherd concluded her address by passing on the message left by one of her Year 6 male students in a time capsule for the next anniversary.
“My teacher is Ms Shepherd. You might have her in 50 years. Good luck with that!”
Oakey State School’s leaders passed on their best wishes to the family of long time teacher Mrs Shirley Bernays, who had passed away earlier in the week.
Former groundskeeper Mr Kevin Byers, who played an invaluable role as an historical source during the preparations spoke about how he was there to bury the first time capsule in 1974.
“I thought, that’s the last I’ll see of it!” he told the audience.
“I attended the 75th anniversary as a student, the 100th as an organiser and the 125th as a guest.
“I don’t like my chances of making it to the 175th anniversary,” he concluded dryly.
After a show of hands, Mr Kevin Frank, ex-groundskeeper at Oakey High was revealed to be the oldest student in attendance.
Mr Frank attended Oakey State School for six weeks in 1941 before his family moved to Nangwee.
“I completed my education via correspondence,” he said.
“They used to send the lessons out on the train.”
Mr Frank joined youngest student Emerson Lidster to cut the anniversary cake.
