Long history, big party

20/11/2018. Melton/Moorabool Star Weekly. 150th. Issue Date 27/11. Rockbank Primary School celebrated it's 150th last week Pictured is Gr1 student Riyansh and Gr5 student Maddison with a mural done for the anniversary. Picture Shawn Smits.

By Staff Reporter

Rockbank Primary School has celebrated its 150th anniversary with events evoking bygone eras.

The school opened on October 12, 1868, with 50 students – and events have been flowing throughout October and November as Melton’s oldest school celebrates.

On Saturday, November 17, the school held a major celebratory event attended by about 1000 people.

Pupils entertained throughout the day, with each of the five classes examining 30 years of school history and performing a dance reminiscent of those times.

A time capsule from 1988 was unearthed, its newspaper articles and letters revealing predications for the next 30 years from pupils at the time. Current pupils created a new time capsule that will be opened in 2043.

The anniversary festivities also included an art show and auction of pupil works and tree planting in the school grounds.

School principal Darryl Spiteri said the celebrations were important to members of the school community, past and present.

“I think the anniversary is a really important occasion and we wanted to make sure the community celebrated that,” he said. “It was a wonderful celebration.

“I’m very honored to be the principal at a time of such historical significance for the school.”