April 7, 2021
The pandemic-delayed Windera State School Centenary celebrations will be finally taking place this Saturday (April 10), a year later than originally planned.
Former and current students, family members and Windera residents will be gathering at the school (and its tennis courts) at 2588 Murgon-Gayndah Road from 8:30am.
Organising committee member Amanda Dennien said that as well as former students, there will be about 10 former principals who will each do a “roll call” from their time at the school.
There will also be activities for children, including a jumping castle, and a licensed bar for the adults.
A canteen will be running all day and a coffee van.
Windera State School officially opened on May 24, 1920.
Its enrolment has fluctuated over the years, and it is now back to being a one-teacher school.
During its centenary year, there were 14 students enrolled between Prep and Year 6.
Ex-pupils from the now-closed Glenrock (1926-1966) and Booubyjan (1934-1987) State schools will also be sharing memories at the Windera reunion.
A souvenir book, “100 Years Of Education” ($30), has been prepared to mark the Centenary and will be available on the day, as well as a Centenary cookbook ($20).
Amanda said the cookbook was up-to-date with gluten-free and Thermomix recipes as well as all the traditional favourites.
Copies will be available to purchase at the reunion (cash only).
A history of the Windera region is also being prepared, with a preview copy available to view at the weekend.
PS. There will definitely be a tennis flavour to the day … social tennis in the morning, and then an exhibition match with former Davis Cup player Mark Kratzmann and his brother Andrew (who teamed up with Roger Federer in the men’s doubles at Wimbledon in 2000) in the afternoon.
The two Kratzmanns are both former Windera State School students: Mark (1972-76) and Andrew (1982-83).
“Bring along your tennis shoes and racquets as Mark and Andrew are keen to play doubles,” Amanda said.
The games will be played on the school courts, as the old Windera tennis courts are now a park, a few kilometres away from the school.
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Timetable:
- 8:30am – Registration and morning tea
- 9:30am – Social tennis and socialising
- 11:00am – Official ceremony, ringing of the school bell, roll call, official photos, cutting the Centenary cake
- 12:30pm – Lunch, bar opens
- 2:00pm – Exhibition tennis and old-time games
- 5:00pm – Barbecue and live entertainment
NB. Bring your own mask and chair and follow all current COVID-19 restrictions.
