March 11, 2014
Twenty-five years ago St John’s Lutheran School in Kingaroy opened with just 26 students and two staff members in the renovated (and relocated) Mannuem Creek school buildings.
In March that year, then-Premier Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen performed the official opening ceremony.
Fast forward to Saturday’s silver anniversary celebrations almost exactly 25 years later.
St John’s has about 380 students, more than 50 staff and a brand new Middle School building to handle the school’s latest growth.
St John’s has expanded into Middle School with Year 7 and 8 this year, with Year 9 to follow in 2015.
Principal Helen Folker, who has been on staff throughout the school’s history, said the purchase of Crown Land in 2013 had allowed the creation of a new primary playground and the construction of the Middle School building.
There were now 15 Year 8 students.
The official opening of the new Middle School building was performed on Saturday morning by Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington, who acknowledged the presence in the audience of a special guest, Lady Flo Bjelke-Petersen, the widow of Sir Joh who had performed that original opening.
Mrs Frecklington said it was especially fitting on International Women’s Day to recognise Lady Flo who was an inspiration to the local community.
Bishop Noel Noack assisted with the unveiling of the plaque to mark the opening of the building, and noted that it was also the 175th anniversary this year of the first Lutheran school in Queensland which opened in Brisbane in 1839.
“It was the first school of any kind in Queensland,” he said.
South Burnett mayor Wayne Kratzmann said the community was lucky to have educational facilities like St John’s.
“This is a wonderful facility and it all augurs well for the future of education in our community,” he said.
Lutheran Education Queensland executive director Sue Kloeden congratulated principal Helen Folker on her 25 years of service to Lutheran education and noted that the Prep students who were starting this year would be alive next century.
“The foundations that you lay now will influence these children into the next century,” she said.
The 25th anniversary celebrations also included the official opening of the school’s new kindergarten facilities, band performances, whip-cracking displays and amusement rides.
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