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31 July, 2024

Mount Isa Central State School marks a century of education in the city

The iconic CBD-based school celebrates its 100th birthday.

By North West Weekly

Former student Dawn Coghlan (nee Davidson) and former teacher and current Mount Isa mayor Peta MacRae (nee Griffin) check out some of the memorabilia at Mount Isa Central State School.
Former student Dawn Coghlan (nee Davidson) and former teacher and current Mount Isa mayor Peta MacRae (nee Griffin) check out some of the memorabilia at Mount Isa Central State School.

EVOLVING from a hessian and iron shack that relied on a breeze to keep the students cool to a 21st century school with air-conditioned buildings – Mount Isa Central State School has marked its centenary with letters from former students, an extensive memorabilia display, special dress up day for current students and the creation of a new time capsule.

The festivities commenced on Friday with students encouraged to dress up as a centenarian, which saw plenty of tweed, walking sticks, wigs, glasses and moustaches scattered among those at the special school assembly.

Acting principal Leah Wilcox said former students had written to the school sharing their memories, reading excerpts to current students about the flower growing competitions, warm milk dispensed at the tuck shop and the school fife band detailed in these letters.

A time capsule from 2014 was also opened at the assembly by the eldest staff member, Rita Long and the youngest student, Wyntah George, which revealed photos of students, workbooks with a tongue in cheek note telling a future teacher to mark it, and old copies of newspaper articles from the 90th birthday celebrations a decade ago.

On Saturday, Mount Isa mayor Peta MacRae congratulated the school on its milestone.

The mayor said Mount Isa Central was the first school she taught at when she arrived in the city.

Back then, she was known as Peta Griffin – and yes, she is glad it was before Family Guy aired on television.

Former students came through their old school grounds to see what had changed – and what hadn’t – as they remembered their own halcyon years.

The Saturday morning event was capped with the cutting of a 100th birthday cake, with former late 1940s students Gail Bullock (nee Whereat) and Dawn Coghlan (nee Davidson) given the honour.

The centenary events at the weekend have been months in preparation, with teachers raiding the archives to create a decade-by-decade memorabilia display that highlights the role Mount Isa Central has played in the story of our city.

The school was founded in 1924 when Mount Isa blacksmith Charlie Leonard constructed a makeshift shack with a sapling frame, hessian walls, iron sheet roof and a dirt floor.

Given the tough conditions the pioneering families to Mount Isa faced in their tent and iron homes strewn along the dusty red streets of the fledging township, the school building would not have looked out of place at the time.

The school held its first classes on July 28, with 26 students taught by John Christian Skene.

There were no desks in this classroom and the kids sat on an empty petrol drum or an old wooden box or anything else that was available.

The teacher would hand sew potato sacks into the hessian to repair any frayed or torn walls.

A more permanent structure was constructed about two years later complete with timber walls and a roof that didn’t leak.

The school is already preparing for its 125-year anniversary with a new time capsule prepared that will remain sealed until 2049.

And, yes, even this article is set for the capsule.

“So many great memories have come in from all over Australia,” Ms Wilcox told students at the assembly.

“We know that in 10, 20, even 50 years’ time, you too will look back at your time at Mount Isa Central and have some of your own memories as well.”

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