Teacher-principal Michelle Andrews with youngsters from the Wee Jasper school, Abigail Apps, Matilda Cathles, Charlotte Apps and Ava-May Campbell-Benney. Photo: Megan Cassidy.
It might not be the largest school in the region, but when it comes to marking its 125th birthday, few others can celebrate like Wee Jasper.
With only four students, teacher-principal Michelle Andrews couldn’t be prouder of her young charges who, along with some part-time help, are all busy gearing up for the two-day celebrations from 30 to 31 August.
“Being at a small school like this really is a unique learning experience for the children,” Ms Andrews said. “Here we have a holistic approach to teaching where we can watch them grow over the years.”
Rare to find such a small school still operating with so few children, Ms Andrews said Wee Jasper had been thriving for all its 125 years, right up to today, not just because its youngsters were as bright as buttons – but also because it had a fair bit to do with geography.
A regional school can have that number of students if it is 50 km or more from another school – Wee Jasper is 53 km from its closest school, Yass. It also qualifies because the road into town has been compared to a goat track.
With a population of about 70, with significantly more at the weekends, Ms Andrews believes the school is the “heart of the village”.
“It really is the most incredible place,” she said. “I don’t know if it is the formation of the land, whether it is because it’s a spiritual place, but when you come here you feel you can breathe and be yourself.
“That’s why it has attracted so many really talented people over the years; it’s also why the community spirit is strong.”
It’s clear that the people who have had a connection to the school over its 125 years will play a key role in the celebrations.
Family names like Cathles, Carey, Apps, Cole and Murphy have a strong presence in the community, while Ms Andrews has spent the past few months tracking down former students, teachers and friends of the school so they can contribute to the celebrations, with many featuring in the history of the school she has compiled.
They have been invited to record their memories of the school, like Nancy Weingarth (nee Cathles): “My great love was riding horses. I would ride my pony Mikey, bareback to school every day. He would be left in the horse paddock during the day with the other horses and then I would catch him and ride home. He didn’t like boys at all, so none of the boys were able to catch him. The Cole sisters were at school with me, and they would ride on the same horse to school. I can still remember their horse’s name; it was Jinjohn.”
The team that is the 2024 Wee Jasper Public School – students, teachers and support staff all gearing up for the 125th birthday celebrations. Photo: Megan Cassidy.
And a less pleasant memory: “I also remember that if we got into trouble we would be sent outside to go and get a cane off a lucerne tree for the teacher to use on us!”
Ian Cathles recalls a story his sister Jodie told about her time at the school when the teacher, a Mr Bennett, would go home for lunch in the afternoon and return to school a little drowsy.
“He would go to sleep, at which the kids would get up quietly, put his watch, which was hanging on the wall, forward an hour or so. When he woke up later, he would send them home as his watch said it was time.”
From Michael Carey: “In 1898 my grandfather Henry Carey was enrolled as a potential student if a school opened in Wee Jasper. The following year, 1899, Wee Jasper Public School opened. Henry was reluctant to go to school, but his parents said he had to, so he walked from Riverside paddock, near where the big power line crosses the Goodradigbee River to the schoolhouse on the river flat near the bridge.
“My father Frank Carey and his brother Harold and sister Cora attended Wee Jasper Public School. Dad used to ride a horse to school. One day the teacher told Dad he would catch the horse for him. The teacher caught the horse in the old horse paddock near the creek. The horse was nice and quiet but hated being touched on its flank. The teacher … made the mistake of kicking him on his flank. The horse promptly pig-rooted and deposited the teacher on the ground. A note was sent home to Dad’s parents declaring the horse was dangerous and that Frank should not ride him. Dad arrived at school the next day riding the horse.”
The opening ceremony for the anniversary will be held at 10 am on 31 August. A full agenda of events has been organised for locals and visitors with details available on the school’s website.
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