Peg’s Creek Primary marks 40th anniversary

Peg’s Creek Primary School students and staff rang in the school’s 40th anniversary with a series of celebrations last week.

Last Thursday marked 40 years to the day since the Karratha primary school officially opened at its current site in 1978 with only 85 students, six teachers and a principal.

The school’s student population has since grown to 215 and it became an independent public school in 2013.

Children sang Happy Birthday to the school, opened a 10-year time capsule and buried another, and shared cupcakes at an anniversary assembly before the wider school community celebrated at a sundowner later in the day.

Students, staff and volunteers also held a twilight fete on Saturday featuring sideshow games, numerous market stalls and face painting.

Principal Shiona Hobart said reaching 40 years was a milestone for the school and a chance to re-visit its history.

“I think the school is a part of the history of Karratha and it is still a very important part of the Karratha community,” she said.

“Many of the staff come and stay for a long time, so there’s quite a bit of stability there, and many parents have lived here and gone to the school and now their children are attending,”

“So historically, today’s a big day for our school.”

Ms Hobart said there had been few changes at Peg’s Creek Primary over 40 years, with the school’s buildings and logo having remained the same and its motto only slightly changed.

Several former staff returned to Karratha to help celebrate the school’s anniversary, including founding principal Bob Bader, who recounted what life had been like in its early days.

“The buildings and furnishings were great, but our surroundings were barren, dusty and devoid of any greenery,” he said.

“Our staff were young and many miles from home and our students were mostly transient and many were living in caravan parks.”

“Our parents were working hard to establish themselves in a new environment, however with tremendous help from our P&C and the wider Karratha community, we soon became a school.”

The P&C was the main organiser of anniversary events.

P and C fundraising coordinator Natalie Richards, who is also a former teacher at the school, said Peg’s Creek Primary stood out for its tight-knit community feel.

“It’s always had that small community feeling about the school,” she said.

“The parents work together together on a strong committed P and C, and the students like that their teachers and principal know everyone’s name.”