{"id":135064,"date":"2016-02-15T20:49:33","date_gmt":"2016-02-15T10:49:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=135064"},"modified":"2020-10-22T16:31:48","modified_gmt":"2020-10-22T06:31:48","slug":"nanango-celebrates-150-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2016\/02\/15\/nanango-celebrates-150-years\/","title":{"rendered":"Nanango Celebrates 150 Years"},"content":{"rendered":"
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School captains Charli Clark and Jerem Hinchliff and vice-captains Kaitlyn Newton and Lachlan Burrows read out some of the “letters to future me” from students which will be placed in a time capsule to be opened in 25 years<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Principal Michael Flood looks on as the oldest ex-student present, Jean Bradford (nee Locke) and the youngest current student Nate Collins, 4, who is in Prep cut the anniversary cake<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

February 15, 2016<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ex-students came back in their droves to Nanango on Saturday to mark the 150th anniversary of the opening of the State School.<\/p>\n

In the morning there were fun and games, songs and poems, presented by current students at the school.<\/p>\n

The official part of\u00a0 the “anniverary fair” then kicked off about 11:30am with the ringing of the school bell, located above the main gate.<\/p>\n

The spectators then gathered under shade to listen to the guest speakers, and reminiscences from former principals Craig Elmer and Lyal Giles.<\/p>\n

Current principal Michael Flood said planning for the big day had begun almost as soon as he was appointed to the school in May last year.<\/p>\n

He was relieved the day was going off without a hitch and also pleased with the roll-up, estimating 2000 people had come through the school gates.<\/p>\n

The celebrations included a family fun day, memorabilia display and an opportunity to inspect the school’s modern classrooms.<\/p>\n

A special 150th Anniversary birthday cake, made by local resident Gloria Fleming, was cut by the youngest student, Nate Collins, and the oldest ex-student,\u00a0Jean Bradford (nee Locke, 1930-39).<\/p>\n

There were a number of\u00a0other 1930s-vintage students present, including Ron\u00a0Locke (1936-45), Betty Carey (nee Crone, 1937-42), Allan Weir (1938-46) and Joy Dale (1939-41).<\/p>\n

On Friday night, ex-students gathered at Ringsfield House for a meet’n’greet.<\/p>\n

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Three friends from Nanango who also finished at the school in 1968 … from left, Richard Perrett, Ian Scott and Neil Strack<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Ex-students Janelle Bain (nee Andress, 1962-74) and her father Bill Andress (attended the school during World War II)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n
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Joy Dale (nee Murray, 1937-41) and Gwen Hunter (1938-43) … the pair used to live just three houses apart<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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Nanango State School principal Michael Flood, who joined the school in May 2015, with special guest, Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Pete Otto, Coolabunia, tries out one of the new picnic tables … he was one of the first pupils at Nanango high school when it opened in 1955\u00a0<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n
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Ex-Nanango State School students Sandra Vincent (nee Bradford, 1955-61) and her mother Jean Bradford (nee Locke, 1930-39)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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A plaque honoring the first principal on one of the new picnic tables, sponsored by Heritage Nanango and constructed by the Nanango Men’s Shed<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Guest speakers on the day included former principals Lyal Giles (2006-2015) and Craig Elmer (1989-2006)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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A big thank you to the organisers … from left, Robyn Retschlag, Tammy Nunn, Libby Clapperton and Ann Black<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Nanango State School in 1894 (Photo: John Oxley Library)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n