By Derek Schlennstedt
Despite being born a century apart, Emerald Primary School and the Ranges Trader are united through time as well as in print.
In November 1979, when the Trader was launched, the school was busy preparing to celebrate the centenary of its Avonsleigh origins and a unique relationship began.
The front cover of the Trader’s first edition featured a story on the school’s centenary celebrations and in return the school included a copy of the paper in its time capsule which was sealed on Saturday 17 November 1979.
Twenty-two years later, when the school celebrated its centenary at its Emerald site in April 2001, the time capsule was opened and replaced with another that was sealed with another copy of the Ranges Trader, which is scheduled to be opened in 2051.
Forty years ago, Don Fitzgerald (front left) started a community newspaper, and his first story was with Graeme Legge (front right) who was principal at Emerald Primary School.
While many things have changed at the school, the archway – built from Emerald rock taken from Emerald quarry – has stood the test of time, much like the relationship between Emerald Primary School and the Ranges Trader.
