GOODBYE HOPE VALLEY CELEBRATIONS
On Sunday 26 October 2003, hundreds of people with links to the school came along for a barbeque, a bush dance and a lot of catching up with friends from the past.
The person with the oldest connection to the school was Beverley Playle who attended the school from 1961 - 1967. Beverley was at the school when it moved from Naval Base to its present site.
This happy group enjoyed the opportunity to meet up with school mates and Principal John Newman.
They are, Brad Bell, John Newman, Elise Maynard, Brett Hall, Karen Hall, Tanya Brooks, Leanne Brooks and Graydon Newman at the back with Clancy Gallin, Diana Nella, Shannon Mundy, Kelly Gallin and Jenny Schwartz in the front row.
Tanya lives in Beelier, works at Fremantle Ports and is married to Lorenzo Caratti.
Karen lives in Palmyra, works as a marketing coordinator and is engaged to be married in Feb 04.
Leanne lives in Beelier, is a childcare worker in Shoalwater and is about to travel the world.
Larny lives in Waikiki with partner Mark and has a beautiful baby girl, Ashleigh.
Kelly lives in Armadale with boyfriend Lloyd. Works as a florist and is loving it.
Clancy lives in Golden bay with partner Warren. Has two beautiful children, Tyren and Rhys. Is a florist and life is wonderful.
Brett works in the ship building industry, lives in success and enjoys life. Misses Hope Valley.
Jenny lives in Hilton. Is trying to be a writer, much better than working for the government.
Grayden lives in Safety Bay. He is engaged and a father to be. He builds swimming pools and is enjoying life especially after seeing everyone from Hope Valley Primary School.
Elyse Hall is waitressing while seeking an apprenticeship. She is looking forward to travelling. Sarah Jackson works as a travel consultant and plans to study journalism. Janey-Lee Kelly, recently engaged to Simon Gilbert, is an apprentice chef at the old Swan Brewery. She is also completing courses in business management.
The current and recently departed students had a bouncy castle and pillow fight game as well as the bush dance to keep them occupied.
Rose sold all of our memento mugs that we had and took orders for about 50 more.
Many of the ex students wrote their name and the years that they attended the school on the back of sports carnival place cards which were pinned to a mobile board.
Brett, on the left, is almost finished year twelve at Kwinana SHS. He still lives about 150 metres east of the school but will move to Baldivis in the near future. Natalie White works on the books at the family farm in Mandogalup and is a teacher assistant at a nearby school. Rose Spence is our trusty bus warden and library officer. She will live in town for a year after the school closes. Judy White had four great kids attend the school and she is still a keen supporter of school activities. Lorraine Pearson has taught at the school in a part time capacity for almost twenty years. Her three children also attended the school. Rob Briggs is in his thirteenth year as principal and had hoped to be in the job for the rest of his teaching career.
Teagan and Nyssa are finishing off year 11. Teagan attends Rossmoyne SHS and plans to become a police officer. Nyssa attends Kwinana SHS and has a scholarship from ALCOA. She is aiming for a place in the School of Dentistry.
The Cocks family enjoyed the day. Debbie was library officer at Hope Valley in the 90s and the boys attended the school. Bradley keeps very busy, he works part time at the Fremantle Motor Museum, studies part time at TAFE and works on a casual basis at the Kwinana SHS library.
Steven is in his fourth year as an Instrument and Electrical Apprentice at BP.
When the school closes the honour boards and photos will be displayed at the Mandogalup Hall, the headquarters of the Mandogalup Volunteer Fire Brigade.
Ex-students will be able to call at the hall at 7.30 pm on the first Wednesday of each month to view the memorabilia. Appointments for viewing will also be available.
A time capsule was buried at the site of the original school on Friday 5 December.
Check out MAGAZINESto see some of our history.
Contact me by e-mail if you have any comments or if you need more information. Thanks, Rob Briggs