Former classmates Janice O’Neill and Suzie Mather embraced after being reunited almost 40 years after graduating school.

“I haven’t seen Janice since the last day of school,” Ms Mather said through a smile from ear to ear.

The classes of 1965 and 1975 crossed paths for a brief reunion before sharing more intimate dinners and drinks together over the weekend.

“It’s like those 50 years weren’t there,” said Tony Parbery of Sydney as he strolled the school grounds with former classmate Michael Whiting.

“This is the first time I’ve seen Michael in 50 years,” he said.

Mr Whiting said his career in education was “inspired” by his time as a student at Bega High, where he was school captain in 1965.

Janelle Reeve of Bega helped organise the reunion and wore her school uniform on the day, and said it was difficult to recognise some former classmates after such a long time apart.

“The name tags are essential,” she said with a laugh.

Fellow organiser Norm Pearce said the social media phenomena has made it easier to track down former classmates than ever before.

The pair said they have “always been mates” and shared their resources in tracking down old friends.

For many women it can be a little trickier, as most have since married, moved away and changed surnames.

“Fortunately many people are in the phone book and they helped us track the other girls,” Elizabeth Goldsmith of Sydney said while chatting with Gail O’Brien also of Sydney.

It was also tricky for the class of 1965 as many school records have been destroyed and names lost forever.

“It’s like we didn’t exist,” Ms O’Brien said.

Also on the tour was former geology teacher and current resident of Casuarina Retirement Village Kevin Hoyland, who was the only teacher at the time with permission from the principal to be known by a nickname while in class.

“I was called ‘Dr Rock’ because of my geography knowledge,” he said.

Former student Don Spence ran through a mock roll call with the class of 1975 while the class of 1965 chatted and exchanged stories of days gone by.

Many parts of the school have changed dramatically while others are still as they were 40 years ago, Ms Reeve said.

“The school hall is exactly the same, it even has the same curtains I think,” she said with a laugh.