Last week, Lorne P-12 College hosted an event to commemorate the refurbishment of the Archway at the entrance to the school on the corner of Grove Road and Smith Street. Gary Allen, a former student and later Principal of the School and President of the Lorne Historical Society was invited to perform the opening together with the School Captains. The following is a transcript of his speech:
“Principal Elevato, Deputy Mayor Clive Goldsworthy, Mr Craig Hunt, distinguished guests and most importantly, the scholars of the Lorne P-12 College. I use the term scholars because when you read the official program for the 50 years celebration the pupils are referred to as scholars. The definition of a scholar is “a learned or erudite person, especially one who has profound knowledge of a particular subject.” I trust you all regard your selves as scholars.
It is a great honour for me to be asked to participate in this event to open the refurbished archway along with the student leaders of the college. I am currently wearing four hats… not because I hope, that I have that many personalities, but I think most importantly because I am a relative of James Anderson, son of my great grandparents Richard and Mary Ann (pictured), the first enrolled scholar and the first pupil/teacher of the School, who unveiled the memorial gates ninety years ago. He lived to be 103, and I clearly remember meeting him in the early 50s.
It is a great regret of mine that when principal, we searched for, but never found the original gates and I hope that replica gates can be made for the 100th anniversary of this event… and I might say I also hope that I’m still around to participate.
I must congratulate the College and in particular Geoffrey Couper, who has been a driving force behind this project, and I also acknowledge the great support given by the fundraisers and private donors present today.
At the time that the archway and memorial gates were built and opened (17th September 1929), there were four classrooms at the school. The township was growing. It was the start of the guesthouse era, catering for tourists. The original building had already been extended and in 1922 the concrete room on the west side was built and in 1927 a “sloyd room” (woodwork room) was built, financed by private and government funds and located near the archway. The community had to fight to have the building painted and a blackboard installed. The current year 12 students use this sloyd building as a common room.
In the records held at the Lorne Historical Society the school was described as “one of the best equipped in the state – there were clocks in each room, all required apparatus, a gramophone, sewing machine and piano“. Fortunately, or unfortunately, the bar today is somewhat higher.
The events held on September 16, 17 & 18, 1929 were both a celebration and a remembrance. The archway was erected to celebrate the 50 year anniversary of the Lorne School No. 2162 and most importantly it is a memorial to those students who served and died in World War One.
Students will be learning of the horrors of war and human conflict. However, nothing we read or learn comes close to an understanding of the real suffering and sacrifices made by this generation of our school and our community.
Later, Mr Craig Hunt, president of the Lorne RSL sub-branch will lay a wreath at the archway as part of our recognition of their sacrifice, made all the more poignant as today is the 75th anniversary of D Day, the allied landings on the beaches of Normandy.
When the archway was opened, community emotions would still have been raw. However, the organising committee ensured that the three days were mainly a celebration of the service by the School to the youngsters of our town.
Festivities included a social on the Monday night in the Beech Hall with an excellent supper served. Other activities included cards, dancing and community singing. There were pianoforte recitals by Miss Mary Gay (a cousin of James Anderson), tambourine and piano selections played by Messrs L. Alsop and Allen and Wednesday was back to school with James Anderson teaching the girls and the first head teacher, Mr. John Danaher teaching the boys.
We are all truly privileged that two of the children present on Tuesday 17 1929, in Grade 1 and in the photograph displayed, still reside in Lorne – Mr. Doug Stirling who will unveil the Plaque, commemorating today’s celebration, with the current grade one students at a later date and Mr Geoff Jarratt whose family also has a long association with our town.
On behalf of the Lorne Historical Society, I wish to thank the school community and the organising committee of the grounds upgrade who sought our views about the refurbishment and retention of the archway in its original position. I clearly remember this as the main entrance to the School, we did not have students travelling by bus and the area to the south was where we practiced marching, played football, marbles and went to have fights behind the then shelter shed.
A lasting memory is our departure through these gates for the Christmas holidays as all students were given a shilling by Mr. Frank Beaurepaire, the owner of the Cumberland guesthouse; this is approximately equivalent to $3.00 today.
This symbol means much to the past and current residents of Lorne therefore on behalf them and particularly on behalf of the ex-scholars of the Lorne School I conclude by saying a very big thank you to all those involved in this refurbishment project.”
Gary Allen
