Bulimba State School’s 150th Anniversary Heritage Day

Elected representatives; distinguished guests; members of the enthusiastic Bulimba State School family. I acknowledge, with respect to Elders, the Traditional Owners of the lands around Brisbane.

It is a great pleasure for me to join the Bulimba State School community for this celebration – to the day – of the school’s 150^th anniversary.

Bulimba State School is just seven years older than Queensland itself, so the school is a significant part of the story of Brisbane and our State. 

Sitting high on a ridge, the school has witnessed extraordinary change in the suburb and the city around it.

When the first school buildings were constructed, the river flats below were occupied by farms. Inevitably, the riverside location attracted other economic activities, with boatbuilding prominent among them. 

The population grew, and the dense scrub that originally covered the land around the bend in the river eventually gave way to light industry and quarter acre blocks.

There has been extraordinary change inside the school too. The original single wooden structure has become a substantial complex of buildings. Teaching methods have changed remarkably since the rigid rows of desks, slates and chalk, of those earlier days.

Though much has changed over the decades, learning and community remain at the core of Bulimba State School’s purpose and identity.

The thousands of young people who have spent their formative years at the school have played a part in the growth and development of Brisbane and Queensland.  

And, across the span of a century and a half, the school’s role in educating these young people represents an enormous contribution to our State and country.

That’s a big part of the heritage in “Heritage Day”. 

And I was very pleased to learn the school erected an honour board this year recognising past students and teachers who were part of World War One. Many of them died or were wounded on battlefields in Turkey and Europe, and the Governor and Mrs de Jersey are currently in France representing Queensland at ceremonies commemorating the centenary of the Western Front.

Therefore as Acting Governor, on behalf of all Queenslanders, I thank all of those whose hard work and dedication have played a part in the success of the school over fifteen decades – the State’s education system, principals, teachers, administrative staff, families, and the wider community of Bulimba.

I congratulate current and former students and staff and wish them great enjoyment in celebrating this special anniversary in style – a gala dinner, bush dance, commemorative book and DVD, cake cutting (which I very much look forward to shortly cutting with the oldest and the youngest student), school tours and, no doubt, lashings of nostalgia.

In the same spirit of pride and celebration, it is with great pleasure that I now officially open the Bulimba State School Heritage Day. 

Thank you.