Reunited under Kumbia State School’s fig trees … Lyle Dascombe (1949), from Kingaroy; Rick Lelay (1970) from Sydney; teacher aide Marling Dascombe, from Kingaroy; and Ian Dugdell (1967), from Atherton  
The Kumbia Quilters prepared a special quilt for the speaker’s rostrum

March 3, 2014

Kumbia State School had its biggest roll-up ever on Saturday when more than a thousand students, ex-students and their families packed into the grounds for the school’s centenary celebrations.

Copies of the commemorative book were quickly sold out.

Visitors – which included Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss – wandered through the grounds and classrooms, inspecting memorabilia and running into long-lost friends.

Speaking at the official ceremony, Mr Truss noted that it took him almost two hours to walk from the gate to the formal area because so many people wanted to stop and swap memories.

He told an assembly of today’s students that many things had changed.

He recalled that when he attended the school there were just three rooms and that getting in a car and travelling to Haly Creek or Mannuem to play sport was a real adventure.

“The world has changed dramatically and you will be part of even bigger change,” he said.

Compere for the day was Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington who managed to entice the Deputy PM into leading the “war cry” for his former school house, Russell.

A highlight of the official ceremony was a performance on fifes and drums of old favourites by a collection of former students.

Mr Truss then officially unveiled the centenary plaque and helped lower a time capsule into the ground.

The official centenary tree, a Moreton Bay fig, was planted by South Burnett mayor Wayne Kratzmann and councillor Ros Heit.

South Burnett mayor Wayne Kratzmann, Cr Ros Heit, Deputy Prime Minister and former Kumbia State School pupil Warren Truss and Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington  

John Aitken, from Nambour (his wife Kaye Winter attended school at Kumbia); Phil Herbohn (1963), from Brisbane; and Les Corney, from Brisbane (his two children were pupils at the school)

Marie Witts, from Lagoon Pocket, with her father Arthur Turner, from Glastonbury … Arthur’s mother Jessie Martin was a first day pupil and his grandfather was on the foundation committee
The oldest surviving pupil Myrtle Couchman (nee Collier), 99, and Kumbia’s youngest pupil Kyra Wojtasek cut the centenary cake

Kumbia State School principal Ross Deards and P&C president Glen Unverzagt

Former pupil Glen Salter (1978) with Pat Hobdell (band leader and school cleaner)
Lynelle Cross (1975), Maree Salter (1977) and Teena Kucks (1977) were part of the ex-student fife band which played a selection of old favourites under conductor Pat Hobdell

Warren Truss and PC president Glen Unverzagt unveil the centenary plaque

The Deputy PM helps principal Ross Deards lower the centenary time capsule
Sylvia McArdle (nee Garrett) was a teacher at the school from 1960-66;  she is standing behind a special tablecloth which was signed by all the school’s students for her as a wedding present in 1966 … each student signed their name which was then traced onto the cloth and painted over

Josie McConville attended nearby Glencliffe State School from 1938-42

Teresa Francis, from Kumbia, was enjoying the monster celebrations
South Burnett mayor Wayne Kratzmann and Cr Ros Heit add to the collection of figs at Kumbia State School by planting a special centenary tree
Former students and their families mingled under the fig tree

The After Party

After a big day of celebrations at the school grounds, the Kumbia Hall Committee was kept busy in the evening preparing a two-course meal in the Memorial Hall for the many people who came to town for the celebrations.

More than 230 people booked in for the dinner.

As well as dinner, they enjoyed live music from local performers.

Joan Penman, nee Duncan (1954) and her husband Keith, from Brisbane

Heather and Robin Unverzagt … there have been four generations of Unverzagts at the school  

Julie, Wayne and Barbara Swann … Barbara’s mother Maud Hayden attended the school

Ann and Owen Corry, from Brisbane … Owen’s mother Gracie Hayden started school in 1914

[UPDATED]