Did you go to school at Bedgerabong?
The community is preparing to celebrate 150 years of public school and they’d love to hear from you.
Work to collate information on the history of the small school is under way, principal Paul Faulkner said, as they prepare for a big reunion weekend on Friday and Saturday 27 and 28 March, 2026.
As they make their plans, what Mr Faulkner is really keen to hear are the stories and recollections of people’s experiences of the school.
Generations have grown up through this small school at Bedgerabong – and the very special community it sits at the heart of.
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Mr Faulkner is hoping to share word of the anniversary celebrations far and wide, to gather as many people with connections to Bedgerabong back to this beautiful part of the world.
It says a lot that Bedgerabong has only had about five principals in some 125 years, Mr Faulkner will have served 25 by the anniversary celebration.
“It is a really strong community, there are really strong tries,” he said.
“People think of the place fondly even though they might not have been here for 50 years.”
What he’d love is to sit down and share the stories of Bedgerabong school in days gone by: stories like those he heard early of kids stashing tea in the gully and rushing down there to boil the billy when the principal went home for lunch - a lookout perched on the shed roof.
Whether these stories are presented as an audio collection or transcribed and collated in print form is still being worked out, he’d just love to start hearing from people and recording those stories soon.
“It’s the stories and connections that make it really rich,” Mr Faulkner said.
They’re also looking for photographs that will prompt people’s memories as well, they’re starting to share photos as they find them through a Bedgerabong150 facebook page and all of this will be part of a wonderful 150th anniversary next year.
Because this is a very special school community.
“I love the fact that people embrace the school and seem to have the same respect for the school and its values that their parents held when they were at school,” Mr Faulkner said.
“It’s very much an extended family and we all share the same goals for the kids, which really haven’t changed from the last 150 years.”
Respect, work ethic, and community are at the fore for all, which staff modelling with their own commitment to being part of events like the local show and the renowned picnic race meeting.
The reunion will have a school open day where visitors can see how the school is today, as well as a picnic day Saturday.
There is a time capsule to unearth and open, and the school will prepare another to bury on the occasion.
Register your interest 150bbong@gmail.com or by phoning 02 6857 1185.
Follow Bedgerabong150 on Facebook and Instagram.
