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urrent and former students and staff from Brewarrina Central School are preparing to celebrate 150 years since they opened their doors.

 

It all started on the 18 September 1875, with the first teacher Mr William Nicholson teaching a class of 31 children and young adults, up to 20 years of age.

 

Bringing the past to life ahead of the celebration between five to ten former staff and student have so far taken part in recorded interviews.

 

The school's principal Jennifer Green said they want to celebrate their old guard.

 

"We've got lots of wonderful stories of people who rowed boats across the river to get to school during high river levels," Ms Green said. 

 

"We want to honour all of those stories and connect back with former students, and give an opportunity for them to actually physically connect with their former classmates.

 

"We're also celebrating the great opportunities our young people have for their strong future in our community as well."

Brewarrina students in the 1940's and 50's. [IMAGE: supplied]

Brewarrina Central's current School Leadership and Community Engagement Officer Aunty Kim Hardy is herself a former student.

 

"I've been working here for 43 years at the school," she said.

"I finished in '78 and in those days there were heaps of classes.

"There were two classes in year seven and two in year eight, of about 30 odd students, so it was quite huge at the time."

 

Ms Green said the Brewarrina community is very supportive of the effort.

 

"I've been to many schools. The thing that strikes me is how heavily people are connected back to this community and school.

"Regardless of where they go, they're drawn back here."

A class photo from Brewarrina Central School sometime between 1927 and 1931. [IMAGE: supplied].

 

"One thing that I really admire is the strength of family bonds and the willingness of people to sit down and tell you about the past days at the school, and the generosity in the community for having those conversations with us," said Ms Green

 

"I think that's been fantastic."

Preparations are already in full swing for the sesquicentenary, with a formal assembly and cake cutting planned for Thursday 18 September and a Back to Bree Central Open Day the following Saturday.

 

"We've got a very young student here in kindergarten this year, and we're hoping to have a lovely cake cutting with the eldest person that was a former student and them," Ms Green said.

More than anything, Ms Green wanted to emphasise that any former students or staff who want to be part of the celebration should reach out.

"It's a genuine opportunity to come back and have a yarn with all your old schoolmates and the staff that are available," said Ms Green.

 

"If anyone who sees this is a former staff member or student, reach out to the school and send us in what you've got copies of or we can arrange to pick it up.

 

"I actually went for a trip to Forbes and picked up some information from a former teacher in the last school holidays, so we've got wonderful materials for us to copy and have on display for our celebration.

 

"So if anyone would like to support the celebrations through sharing some information or reminiscence on their days, we'd love to hear from them."