Katunga South Primary School community farewells school

By Georgia Rossiter

Nov 28, 2021

Farewell: Katunga South Primary School was visited by a large crowd as past students, teachers and school community members gathered to say goodbye. Photos: Rodney Braithwaite Photo by Rodney Braithwaite

Past students, teachers and school community members gathered to share their memories of Katunga South Primary School on Friday morning ahead of its closure next month.

Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content

The formal proceedings started with former principal Shaun Kelly taking the crowd through the history of the school, which first opened its doors in 1880.

Katunga South Primary School students Wyatt Hendy-Smith, William Barnes and Corey Cook received the final awards from the school and a time capsule from 2000 was opened, revealing letters, school work and photos.

With three students remaining, all in Year 6, the decision to close the school after more than 140 years was "the right one", principal Elizabeth Oudeman said.

"There is a nostalgic feeling, but it's the right decision," she said.

Teacher Wayne Smith agreed. He was previously the principal at a school in nearby Strathmerton before he transferred to Katunga South in 2005.

“I’ve been here long enough to see it gradually declining,” he said.

“When you have fewer kids, you think ‘it’s a dream’... but it’s not the same.”

Four generations of Lisa Smith’s family attended the school.

Her son, Wyatt Hendy-Smith, 12, will be one of the final students when the school closes at the end of the school year.

Her grandfather, Wyatt’s great-grandfather, Keith Hendy visited the school earlier last week to commemorate its closure.

“It’s the closing of an era,” Mrs Smith said.

Mrs Oudeman, set to retire after 49 years of teaching, said it was the small school atmosphere that made Katunga South special.

“I’ve taught in lots of schools for a long time ... the atmosphere (here) has always been wonderful, and we’ve had very supportive parents,” she said.

“Katunga South was always known for that.”

Katunga South Primary School’s closes for good on Friday, December 17.