Leongatha Schools Centenary Reunion 2012

February Newsletter

russello — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 07:02:34 +0000

There has been a distinct rise in the level of activity, and a buzz of excitement around the Centenary since the beginning of the school year. A photograph of the Centenary staff and students was taken on February 3rd whilst February 6th marked 100 years of state secondary education in Leongatha. Leongatha Agricultural High School opened on on February 6th 1912.

The February Centenary Newsletter is packed full of updates on Centenary planning and important information for all those coming to Leongatha to help celebrate on the weekend of April 28th and 29th. By clicking here or on the image of the newsletter below you will be able to download the complete newsletter.

A Registration/Booking form is also available and can be accessed by clicking here or on the image below

The school photo and an updated list of the Centenary Committee are also included in this post.

It’s been great to see people using this blog to chat and exchange information. We are approaching 1000 unique site visitors and those comments are most helpful in keeping the blog ‘alive’!

2012 School Year Begins

russello — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 21:54:09 +0000

School has begun for the class of 2012. Mr Peter McCaughan (Maths) addressed the students at the opening assembly on the Centenary events. Some of the statistics around the Centenary weekend were shared with the students leaving them with no doubt that this will be one of the biggest weekends of the 2012 year for the Leongatha community.

A historical photo of the whole 2012 LSC school community was taken on Friday 3rd February. That photo will be published here when it becomes available.

In the meantime here is a photo that we think is from the 1974 Swimming Sports at Mirboo North. Do you recognise any faces? Please leave a comment

Recent Centenary newsletters have a Program for the Centenary. Information about bookings for the Centenary Dinner and Centenary Cabaret as well as ordering the Centenary Book and coffee mug will be included in the February mailout. Avoid any disappointment – book as soon as you can!

One of the events is a Centenary raffle. The Committee has had goods, vouchers, etc. already donated towards the raffle. If you would like to contribute please leave your phone number at the College and you will be contacted. Alternatively, leave relevant details at centenary@leonsec.vic.edu.au

Accommodation information for the Shire of South Gippsland can be found at :
Online bookings : www.visitpromcountry.com.au
Telephone bookings : 1800 630784
Further information can be found at the Shire’s email : infocentre@southgippsland.vic.gov.au

Library Monitors

russello — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 10:07:24 +0000

The library Monitors with Mrs Bacon. Not sure of the year! Can you help? Sometime between 1962 and 1964.
Thanks to Kaylene Vlasveld for sharing this image via Facebook.

“Owly”

russello — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 11:54:15 +0000

“Owly”, posted with vodpod

The Amalgamation

russello — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 02:43:21 +0000

By the mid-1980’s plans began to merge the two schools and form Leongatha Secondary College. The amalgamation in 1990 heralded a new era in Government Secondary schooling inSouth Gippsland. Years 7 to 10 occupied the old High school site and Years 11 and 12 the old Tech site. They became known as The East campus (Tech) and The West Campus (High). A new centre wing was built and officially opened in 1991.

The Time Capsule

russello — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 02:39:54 +0000

In 1972 the High School celebrated its 60th anniversary with a “Back To” at which a time capsule was buried. The time capsule has been extracted and is situated outside Mesley Hall. It will be opened at the Centenary in 2012 – on April 28-29^th.

The Technical School

russello — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 02:36:56 +0000

Again, local lobbying led to the development of theLeongathaTechnicalSchool. It began in 1967 in portable classrooms at the rear of the High School. By 1970 the newTechnicalSchooloccupied the area where the farm used to be.

The Oak Tree

russello — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 04:35:37 +0000

The first school building was constructed during 1912 and was ready for use in 1913. The Sloyd Room, to be used for woodwork, was erected in 1913 and still stands on the same spot. An Algerian Oak was planted when the school first opened.

Please contribute to your memories from ‘under the oak tree’ by clicking on the ‘Leave a Comment’ tab below.

Tell us about this photo!

russello — Mon, 02 May 2011 06:36:47 +0000

Please leave a comment if you know the background to this photo. Could it be the house sports?

Welcome!

russello — Sun, 01 May 2011 20:11:48 +0000

This blog is being constructed to facilitate communications between past and present members of the Leongatha schools community in the lead up to the centenary in April 2012. Please contribute to the information contained here by clicking on the ‘Leave a Comment’ link on any of the posts. Recent comments will appear in the left hand side bar. We will endeavor to respond to any questions or requests for information. You may also like to use the links in the side bar to connect with various Facebook pages connected with the Centenary.

The Centenary celebrates the communities of the Leongatha State Schools:

– Leongatha Agricultural High School (1912-1930)

– Leongatha High School (1931-1989)

– Leongatha Technical School (1967-1989)

– Leongatha Secondary College (1990-2012)

The Centenary weekend will be 28-29^th April, 2012. Please get your details onto the database for the weekend by contacting the committee at this email address centenary@leonsec.vic.edu.au

The Centenary Committee

The Beginning

Lobbying by the community for the provision of secondary education for South Gippsland youth became a reality in February 1912. An Agricultural High School was established at Leongatha. Sixty students enrolled and classes were held in a room at the Leongatha State School, then in Jeffrey St, and in the Rechabite Hall in Roughead St.

Arthur Mesley was the first Headmaster. The site for the school was on the corner of Nerrena Rd and Horn St.. A school farm was established where the East campus now stands. Agriculture was a significant part of the curriculum in those early years.

By 1930 the school farm was running at a loss and the Education Department decided to close it. The word Agricultural was dropped from the school name.

In 1933 the original school building was destroyed by fire.

Only the Sloyd Room remained.

Please add any relevant information about ‘The Beginning’ by clicking on the ‘Leave a Comment’ link below.