ILLUSTRATING just how treasured the small school is, over 160 people travelled from as far away as Western Australia to join in the St Joseph’s Primary School’s 125th anniversary celebrations over the long weekend.
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In fact, former St Joey’s also came from Queensland, the Northern Territory and of course all across NSW and Victoria to mark the very special occasion in Bombala.
The festivities began with a dinner on Saturday night at the Bombala RSL Club, with all happily taking the opportunity to reconnect with long lost friends, take a trip down memory lane and share stories from the playground.
The evening was opened with an address from current St Joseph’s Principal, Kim Crannis, followed by a blessing from Fr Henry Byrnes, who was the Parish Priest at St Mary’s Bombala in the 1950s.
Amongst other special guests were former St Joseph’s nuns, Sisters Helen, Philomena, Wilga, Julian, Bernadette and Timothy, who had also been a St Joseph’s student.
They were joined by current resident nun, Sister Teresa, while Peter Kimber was chosen as the oldest former St Joseph’s student present to cut the reunion cake.
The following day the group celebrated a Mass to give thanks for the wonderful efforts that had been made over the past 125 years to provide the people of this area with a rich educational program through St Joseph’s.
The celebrations continued as the current students showed the former St Joey’s around the school, while posters and photos of the ‘good old days’ were displayed for all to enjoy.
There was also high praise for the mosaic sign adorning the front fence for the 125th anniversary, with all of the children, from Kindergarten to Year 6, having participated in this important art project.
A small group of children had also joined forces with teacher, Matthew Farran to produce a recipe book to mark the occasion.
The students were responsible for choosing the different recipe categories for the book, writing letters to the school and parish community asking for contributions, and collating the recipes, with the outstanding finished product being commended.
The School Community Council catered for morning tea, lunch and afternoon right throughout the busy Sunday, and many yarns were told during this time.
The current students, the Sisters of St Joseph and a former Parish Priest were all presented with medallions to commemorate the momentous occasion, while the senior students cut another cake decorated by Bec Lucas of the Bombala Bakery.
“The weekend has been a very happy time for all involved, and I am sure that we will look back on it with fond memories, another part of the wonderful history of St Joseph’s School, Bombala, and the beautiful community it serves,” Principal, Kim Crannis said.
“The St Joseph’s school community would like to thank everyone who has supported a Catholic education in Bombala over the past 125 years. We appreciate all that has been contributed by this community and we wish our school well into the future.”