The triumphs and tribulations of the past 40 years were highlighted last weekend as a local primary school celebrated a significant milestone event.
Current students, staff, alumni and the wider community came together on Saturday to celebrate Forrestdale Primary School’s ruby anniversary.
The school’s family fair was packed full of plenty of activities including a traditional welcome to country and smoking ceremony, performances from the school choir, an animal farm, reptile display and a variety of stalls and food choices.
Principal Wayne Bariolo said the school had overcome a number of hurdles in its 40 years including bushfires, the redaction of boundaries, the Brookdale Water Treatment Plant scare and regular changes of leadership.
“As property development has approached Forrestdale the school intake zone contracted with new schools built on all sides has reduced the number of students at our school over the years,” he said.
“However, we currently have 150 students and in 2019 we will begin with approximately 170 with about 80 per cent of those coming from outside our boundary as there are very few houses within the boundary.”
Mr Bariolo said the school, which had recently become an independent public school, was pleased to share the news at the fair that they had received State Government funding to upgrade a classroom into a science laboratory.
“Those who attended the fair confirmed that the greatest achievements of this school, or any school, were the students who the school has helped develop their potential, whether academic, sporting, social, vocational or otherwise.
“Forrestdale has helped develop thousands of students since 1978 and will continue to do so in the future,” he said.
“The event was very well attended with thousands of staff, students and family members from the first classes in 1978 right through to the current 2018 group, who reflected a close-knit community, although from diverse backgrounds.”
Photographs – Aaron Van Rongen.
