Williamstown North Primary School celebrated its 150th anniversary on Sunday, with staff and students both past and present gathering to mark the milestone.
“We had a fantastic day, despite the weather,“ said assistant principal Sarah Nobbs of the celebrations which were held at the school’s Melbourne Road premises.
Among those in attendance was 96 year old Arthur Leibert, believed to be the school’s oldest surviving student.
Ms Nobbs said other former students spoke at the event and reminisced about their experiences.
“Iris Whitehurst spoke from a past student perspective, outlining some of her memories, including making tea for the teachers, dancing for the Queen in 1954 at the MCG when she toured Australia and having her two children and two grandchildren attend the school.”
At the other end of the spectrum, year six students Jemma and Nelly spoke about currently attending Williamstown North which both have done since prep.
Current school principal Richard Buckingham also spoke and read the perspective of assistant principal Wendy Emin, who has worked at the school since 1998.
Williamstown MP Melissa Horne attended and spoke highly of the school’s community and achievements since its founding in 1874.
Unsurprisingly, there were families at the celebration event who had multiple generations attend the school, however there was one that topped the lot.
Current student Thea Roberts is the sixth generation of her family to have attended Williamstown North, following her mother Tara Dixon (1987 to 1993), aunty Alisha Napolitano (1984 to 1990), grandparents Camille Dixon (1961 to 1967) and Trevor Dixon (1957 to 1963) great-grandfather Stanley Whear (1922 – 1928), great-great-grandmother Martha Briscoe and her mother and Thea’s great-great-great-grandmother Harriet Shield.
Cade Lucas.
