Allendale East Area School (AEAS) rang the bell on 70 years of the establishment over the weekend, attracting more then 80 past and present students, staff and school community members.
The school was first opened in 1953 and hosted more than 200 students from schools with dwindling numbers in Allendale, Port MacDonnell and Mount Schank.
The Allendale East Area School 70th birthday organising committee was made up of past and present school members Rhonda Jess, Mel Reed, Kylie Smith, Bev Lewis and Valerie and Dr Murray Earl.
The celebrations commenced at the school on Saturday morning with an introduction, guided tours and a light lunch, followed at night by a dinner at the Victoria Hotel.
The festivities finished on Sunday with a church service in the AEAS performing arts room, barbecue lunch and celebratory cake cutting.
Mrs Jess said everyone shared many stories and reminisced on times past.
“There are so many people here and they just want to come along and catch up, it’s great,” she said.
“Everyone is just enjoying the chance to catch up and have a chat.
“It is everything I anticipated it would be. It came together absolutely fabulously with help from Mel Reed.”
Mrs Smith said as the school moved into the future they looked to keep the memories of the past alive.
“One of the things I guess we realised as we were getting the memorabilia out is it only comes out in decade increments and we do not often talk about what happens in between until we get to that point,” she said.
“Historically I think it would be really nice to have a group of enthusiasts to keep talking about the past and the present and then also what the plans are for the future.
“I am really pleased Rhonda and her crew were so excited and were able to pull this together because otherwise some people miss out.
“I want to express my gratitude to everyone who has contributed to our school’s success over the past 70 years, it is because of your hard work and dedication and willingness to get together (that we are) standing here today.”
