When it comes to birthdays, you can be forgiven for celebrating the milestone a few days late.
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Jerangle Public School is about to mark their 125th birthday early next month, however, they’ll be marking the occasion eight years late.
Organising committee member Diane Roberts said the decision to hold the commemorations so late stemmed from when the school was planning its centenary celebrations.
“We were getting ready for the centenary in 1992, and the Department of Education wrote to us saying it was a mistake,” she said.
“We should’ve celebrated it in 1984 because the school was originally called Little Plain School [when it first opened in 1884] and wasn’t known as Jerangle Public School until eight years later.”
The school has been celebrating milestones eight years late ever since, and despite the mix up with the dates, plenty is being planned for the commemorations on March 4.
Former students are being encouraged to attend the events that will be held throughout the day.
Celebrations planned for the day include an open day at the school before a lunch with live music, followed by a dinner and dance that night.
“We’re working on turning a sheep shed into a dance hall,” Mrs Roberts said.
Being one of the only single-classroom schools in the state, Mrs Roberts said Jerangle Public School is a place close to the hearts of many of its former students.
Currently, the school has just eight students, with a teacher, principal as well as a relief teacher.
“Often we have a few locals who are either third or fourth-generation attendees at the school,” she said.
“[The students] learn to care for each other.”
The 125th birthday celebrations will also coincide with the release of a second edition of a book charting the school's long history.
The second edition will focus primarily on the last 25 years of the school.
While many of the other historic buildings in Jerangle are no longer being used, Mrs Roberts said the school has served as the centre of the small community.
“It provides a focal point for so many people,” she said.
“Even with end-of-year school functions, everyone in Jerangle attends, even if they don't have children that go to the school.”
Andrew Brown
I've been part of the Canberra Times since 2016, after reporting at local papers in Sydney's north-west. Since starting at the paper I've had stints on the Sunday Times, on the early morning breaking news round, and now as a general reporter, covering the ins and outs of anything and everything happening in Canberra, with a focus on health.
I've been part of the Canberra Times since 2016, after reporting at local papers in Sydney's north-west. Since starting at the paper I've had stints on the Sunday Times, on the early morning breaking news round, and now as a general reporter, covering the ins and outs of anything and everything happening in Canberra, with a focus on health.
