11 Apr 2023
It was the old school spoon that captured the imaginations of Mount Rogers students as the contents of their primary school’s time capsules were unveiled on Wednesday 5 April.
Two time capsules were opened by Principal Felicity Levitt and the Minister for Education and Youth Affairs, Yvette Berry, as part of the school’s 50th birthday celebrations.
Old school uniforms, school and sporting house flags, a one cent coin, school report templates, a whole school photo, school map, school newsletters and magazines as well as historical records were discovered when the large plastic cylinders were unpacked in front of a full school gathering.
Year 6 student Harry Hodge said the school spoon was the best and it was “really cool seeing all the old stuff.”
When asked what he hoped the school would be like in 50 years time, Harry replied he really hoped it would be a “futuristic” school.
Year 6 student Kate Kershaw said she wanted to put a note in the new time capsule to be buried on school grounds at the end of the year. Kate wants to share “what the school was like now” and she hoped that “the school was growing and everyone there felt welcome and safe.”
Former students told stories of what a school day was like in the 1970s, shared fond memories of school principals and haunted school corridors and told of the strong friendships they still hold on to.
Deputy Director-General Jane Simmons attended the celebrations along with a number of other Education Directorate staff, including Executive Group Manager Kate McMahon who spoke about her time at the school as a kindergarten student in 1973.
“The school was a very inclusive and engaging place that allowed young children – I was only 5 at the time - to come and meet friends and to learn and be included in an emerging growing community.”
She said that 50 years on a lot of things were still the same.
“Teachers care for our children, they teach, they allow them to grow and meet their needs and I think that hasn’t changed in 50 years.”
A stunning 50th birthday cake, made by one of the school parents, was cut by the Minister and shared with the community.
Mount Rogers Primary School is on the site of the old Melba Primary School which opened in 1973. Spence Primary School (closed in 1998) and Flynn Primary School (closed in 2007) amalgamated with Melba Primary and was renamed Mount Rogers in 2008.
From left to right: The 50th birthday cake was made by a school community member; The Melba Primary School spoon found in the time capsule was a hit;
Minister Yvette Berry MLA and Felicity Levett, school principal celebrate with the school leaders.
A number of the original school uniforms were also discovered in the time capsule.