Above: Thomas and Angus size up the lolly jar to guess how many sweets are inside.
By Casey Neill
THE Mount Evelyn community turned out in numbers to celebrate Mount Evelyn Primary School’s centenary last Saturday.
It is 100 years since the Mount Evelyn State School opened on a two acre site on South Wandin Road on 8 July 1910, following a community petition calling for a school.
Past and present students, staff and parents celebrated the milestone with a step back in time. A bush band, old-fashioned games, historic photos and displays, toffee apples and boiled lollies got visitors into the centenary spirit.
They opened a time capsule buried in 1985 to find a Rubik’s Cube, photographs, a school T-shirt belonging to former student Brian Herlihy, a Mountain Views Mail newspaper, teacher list and school map.
Today’s students will create a snapshot of 2010 during Term 4.
Monbulk MP James Merlino and Parliamentary Secretary for School Education Jacinta Collins officially opened the new rooms, built through the Federal Government’s Building the Education Revolution.
The school received $2.15 million under the National School Pride program and Primary Schools for the 21st century funding programs.
Former student, teacher and assistant principal Don Matthews has seen the school’s many changes.
“I wouldn’t know myself. I don’t know where anything is,” he said.
Mr Matthews enrolled himself at the school when he was four and a half.
“I lived in a house on Silvan Road. Some other kids I knew were on their way to school to enrol with their mums, so I went along with them,” he said. “They said I could stay.”
Mr Matthews returned when the understaffed school needed a student teacher.
“In those days, it was just after the war and they probably didn’t have many people they could ask,” he said.
Then-principal John Romanes was asked by his parents if he’d be interested. He was working in a joinery.
“I had to go to Wandin to see the school inspector to see if I was suitable,” he said.
He worked there for 18 months, left to attend teachers’ college and taught at several different schools before returning to Mount Evelyn and becoming deputy principal.
He remained there until he retired in 1986.
Mr Matthews saw many familiar faces at the centenary celebrations.
“Some people I know well,” he said.
“Some others I should know, but you’re not quite sure if it’s someone you taught, or a teacher who was on the staff.”
