The 125th anniversary of the founding of St Anthony’s Catholic Primary School in Millicent was recently commemorated with a formal dinner at the Millicent War Memorial Civic and Arts Centre.
The school had been founded in 1899 by the Sisters of Mercy and a number of this religious order returned to Millicent for the occasion.
They included Sister Margaret Abbott who was a student and teacher at the school and its principal from 1978-81.
Past principals Amanada Parslow and Irene Hann were also present.
Other special guests included Catholic Archdiocese Vicar General Father Dean Marin and Mount Gambier priests Father Peter Zwanns and Father Olek Sterrat.
The secular world was represented by Liberal frontbench MLC Ben Hood and the Mayor and Mayoress of Wattle Range Council Des and Shari Noll.
Old scholars dating back to the 1940s as well as past staff were also present.
Special guests took part in a panel interview with master of ceremonies and former student of St Anthony’s Pat Noonan.
He completed his primary education at St Anthony’s before continuing at Tenison Woods College in Mount Gambier and later Sacred Heart College in Adelaide.
Currently based in Adelaide with his fiancé Carmel, Pat works as a Project Manager at Catholic Education South Australia and is involved in the newly completed building of St Anthony’s school.
The two-course dinner was followed by the opening of the time capsule which was buried in 1999 as part of the centenary celebration of the school.
Items inside the time capsule were presented back to the families.
Prior to the dinner, an exhibition of art by St Anthony’s students was opened in the adjacent community gallery in the Millicent Library.
An open day at the school was held the following day.
