Coomera State School celebrates 150 years with special event

A rough slab and a bark hut were all that greeted students of a renowned school when it first opened in 1873. See the pictures and video as it celebrates 150 remarkable years.

A rough slab and a bark hut were all that greeted the 16 students of Coomera State School when it first opened, as the Coomera Provisional School, under principal Auguste White back in 1873.

A government report a year later, after a school house and principal’s residence were constructed, stated: “The children, as usual, were found in a very backward state when the school was opened. They have made good progress hitherto, and the teacher is extremely painstaking and attentive to the duties of his office. The school has made a very satisfactory beginning.”

Staff and students including principal Nicole Page-Dhu (centre) in period costume at Coomera State School’s 150th anniversary celebration. Picture: Glenn Hampson,

On Tuesday the school’s current principal, Nicole Page-Dhu, led a celebration of how remarkably far it has come in the 150 years from that “very satisfactory beginning”.

In a special assembly that saw staff and teachers don period costume, a time capsule was opened, a specially commissioned artwork by local artist Donald James Waters OAM was unveiled, and a new school song composed by students with the help of singer and songwriter Josh Arnold was played for the first time.

Staff and students at the school, then known as Lower Coomera School, in 1893.

Ms Page-Dhu said the school’s celebrations were the latest chapter in a rich history that had seen it play a key role in the community for generations.

“There’s a great sense of community here,” Ms Page-Dhu said.

“There have been so many principals, school leaders, down the years. But there has always been that sense of community. You will hear people talk about it, they call it the ‘Coomera Way’.”

Augustus White, first teacher at the Provisional School, Lower Coomera. He taught 16 children from 1873 to 1874.

Cover of a book recording corporal punishments meted out at Coomera State School in 1901.

The time capsule, sealed at the school’s last major anniversary celebrations 25 years ago, was opened by school captains from the time Bradley Andrews and Alanna Mackay, who said they had “fond memories” of their time there as students.

Among the many items inside was a floppy disk and an essay from a student predicting that children would, by 2025, all have computers at their desks.

The then student was not too far wrong, Ms Mackay said. “We have iPads now.”

Donald James Waters OAM with his painting to mark the 150th anniversary of Coomera State School.

The wider community is invited to celebrate with the school at a fete on Saturday – promised to be “really old-fashioned” – that will include food trucks, a petting zoo, pony rides, entertainment and appearances from Humphrey Bear and Dreamworld characters. Visitors will also have the chance to view the contents of the time capsule and a large selection of exhibits detailing the school’s 150-year history.

The fete runs at the Dreamworld Parkway school from 10am to 3pm.