A horse-drawn Cobb and Co coach will lead participants dressed in period costumes through the streets of Bacchus Marsh on Friday.
It’s all part of a series of special events to commemorate St Bernard’s Parish Primary School’s 125th anniversary.
Founded by Father Eugene O’Connell in 1863, the wooden primary school was originally sited on the corner of Fisken and Simpson streets, Bacchus Marsh, and was also used as a church. In 1890, the congregation purchased the land the school now sits on.
On Friday, at 11am, the school will put on a street procession to celebrate its milestone occasion. Beginning at the school’s original site, the procession will make its way across Main Street down Crook and Lerderderg streets to the school’s present site.
“The procession will include ex-students, teachers, relatives, and anyone else who might be interested,” the school’s ICT co-ordinator Mandy Le Huray said.
The main event, however, will be an open day on August 7, starting with 10am mass celebrated by Bishop Vincent Long and Father Brian Glasheen.
The school will open the Mary MacKillop Museum for visitors, and the open day will end with a bush dance in the evening.
Guests include Catholic Education executive director Stephen Elder, congregational leader Sister Monica Cavanagh from the Sisters of Saint Joseph and Victorian Josephite Associates co-ordinator Sister Mary Fermio.
