Port Lincoln school digs up pride in the past
Schools
It’s amazing how the power of an aroma, a song, or the slant of someone’s handwriting can transport us back to a moment in time. That’s what happened at Port Lincoln’s St Joseph's School when a time capsule, hidden away for 30 years, was unearthed in August for the school’s 150th anniversary.
When former student Katie Reaper (nee Redding) opened an envelope containing the letter she wrote to her future self all those years ago, she couldn’t contain her excitement.
“I was immediately blown away by how neat my handwriting was, and I could instantly see and feel myself back in that same classroom,” she said.
“The smells, sounds, the look and feel, the old walls and carpet… I was taken straight back to 1994. They are all great memories.”
Katie attended St Jospeh’s from Reception to Year 12, 1987 to 1999. She and her peers were 12 when they placed precious mementos in the time capsule.
“I recall the capsule being installed at the time of a new administration office being built and opened back in 1994,” Katie said.
“I was in Year 7, one of my more memorable years at school. Mr Grbin was an incredible teacher who provided us with constant fun, laughs and really honed our individual learning styles. I was go, go, go and he nicknamed me
‘Turbo’ which stuck throughout my life.”
Facilities and grounds coordinator Justin Howard helping principal Catherine Gurr remove a memory-packed box from the underground time capsule.
Excitement soon turned to reflection. “I was accurate in knowing how important it was to finish school with good marks to set yourself up well for the future,” she said.
“I wanted to be a pilot back then and I did end up joining the Royal Australian Air Force in 2000, serving for seven years.”
Mentions of SAPSASA netball and tennis reflected an ongoing love of sport.
“In adult life I have been fortunate to work in high level sports admin with Netball South Australia and Netball Victoria and played netball at a sub-elite level,” Katie said.
“I also laughed at what I expected my sisters would do in their careers; one became a teacher and the other a nurse (not a lawyer and check out chick as predicted).”
There were tender, heart wrenching moments, too.
“I was very sad to see a letter from a classmate addressed to their self who is no longer with us. Lots of thoughts went straight to that schoolmate. I know their letter will be a welcome surprise for their family.”
School principal Catherine Gurr was thrilled with the delight surrounding the milestone celebrations.
“The treasures we found in the time capsule have made things very real for our students and really helped them appreciate the history of our school,” Ms Gurr said.
“During the week, I took two packages to my Year 8 RE class made by the Year 8s of 1994 and they were so excited and amazed to read what the past students’ favourite songs were: the theme song from Top Gun and ‘Love Is All Around’ (by Wet Wet Wet) which was Top of the Pops that year. It’s just made everything so real.”
They are precious moments for the close-knit community.
“What’s really special for our community is we are the only Catholic school in Port Lincoln and we’re a long way from other Catholic schools,” Ms Gurr said.
“We have a long tradition in Port Lincoln, and families have been sending their children here for 150 years. Some of our teachers were even past students and we’ve been able to pass them items out of the time capsule.”
The anniversary was also an excuse to dig out old photographs, of which there are many. Among the familiar faces was the school’s oldest living former student, Sr Teresa Cooper, who turns 104 in December. Sr Teresa started boarding at St Joseph’s at the age of eight years old and went on to join the Sisters of St Joseph due to the interactions she had with them as a student.
“The first church here was built in 1869 which was before the first Sisters arrived,” Ms Gurr said. “The next church was built in 1926 – we have a photograph that shows both of those churches. The original church was demolished in 1985 and replaced by the current church in 1986. We’ve taken students up to read those foundation stones.”
On August 23, St Joseph’s held a celebration dinner at the Port Lincoln Hotel, attended by current and former staff members, Sisters of St Joseph, former students and parents.
This was followed by a day of school tours and displays of school memorabilia. A parish Mass was also held at the St Mary of the Angels Church with Bishop Karol Kulczycki, Bishop of the Port Pirie Diocese.
Buoyed by pride in the past, the coastal town’s future is bright.
After exploring the world for 25 years, Katie, her husband, their daughter Harriet and two labradors recently returned to Port Lincoln.
“I’m so happy to be home with my family and the town and school that made me who I am today, for which I am truly grateful,” Katie said.
“I am even more excited for my husband and daughter to experience Port Lincoln and the wonderful community that exists here. Harriet is in Year 2 at St Jo’s and is absolutely loving it. A lot has changed; the school looks amazing and is so big and thriving, but it also feels exactly the same as when I was there all those years ago.
“I had a wonderful school experience with so many brilliant memories. Since finishing school in 1999 I’ve thought about Port Lincoln and St Joes a lot and how fortunate I was to grow up in such a beautiful part of the world with such a supportive and caring community.”
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