Elaine McNeilly and Troy Eriksen call the old school building home … they generously opened their property for inspection by busloads of visitorsLynette O’Dell (nee Smoothy, 1960-63), from Wondai, with a reproduction of the Abbeywood School’s old sports uniform
September 15, 2014
At least 150 people turned up on Saturday at Proston to mark the centenary of the former Abbeywood State School.
Organisers know that there were 150 booked into the lunch, but there seemed to be even more people pouring through the doors of the Proston Community Hall.
Abbeywood school was built in 1914 and officially closed on April 24, 1972.
It is now a private residence owned by Elaine McNeilly and Troy Eriksen, who have dubbed it “Lære Plas” (“Place of Learning”).
The couple opened their home to allow a continual stream of visitors to inspect the building and grounds.
The remains of the school’s old tennis court and cricket pitch can be seen, as well as the old benches where students sat to eat their lunches.
The oldest ex-student present was Ernie Grundy, who travelled all the way from Maryborough for the celebration. Ernie will turn 100 later this year.
The oldest ex-pupil present was Ernie Grundy, from Maryborough, who will turn 100 on December 27; Ernie started school at Abbeywood in 1921; he is pictured with reunion organiser Deirdre Lee (nee Buchanan, 1958-64), from Proston, and her father Stewart Buchanan, who also attended Abbeywood School
Bruce Patton (1956-60), from Quirindi in NSW, with Garry Graham (1954-59), from Memerambi
Shirley Anderson, from Kingaroy, caught up with Charmain Standfield (nee Waters), from Mutdapilly, after a break of more than 55 years
A couple of Abbeywood “old boys” … Gordon Buchanan, 89, and Eric Cridland, 98 … Eric started at the school when he was five years old in 1921Visitors inspect a display of old school records and photographsFormer Abbeywood State School students … Jim Knight (1949-56), from Brisbane; Ann Austin (nee Knight, 1944-54), from Redcliffe; Gailene Miller (nee Waters, 1946-54), from Ipswich; and Margery Slinger (nee Knight, 1942-51), from Redcliffe The old Abbeywood State School building has been transformed into a family home
