Thursday, 17 August 2023

Williamstown Primary School

Melissa HORNE (Williamstown – Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Local Government, Minister for Ports and Freight, Minister for Roads and Road Safety) (10:00): 150 years ago Williamstown Primary School first opened its doors and James Russell, the school’s first headmaster, welcomed 310 children, who were reported to be ‘clean, decently clad and of respectable appearance’. It was the first state school in Williamstown, and it was so successful that within weeks of opening it was overflowing with students. Just a year later there were more than 1000 kids enrolled. In fact it was so popular that Williamstown North Primary School had to be opened just down the road. This of course was all due to the introduction of the Education Act 1872, which declared that schooling for all children would be free, secular and compulsory.

Since its first day, Willy Primary has been an integral part of my community, from being converted to a makeshift hospital during the Spanish flu to the annual visit of the Easter bunny at the Easter hat parade. Last year, in the lead-up to this year’s celebrations, the Department of Education began organising a digital time capsule full of photos, reports and other trivia, and surely there will be many more historical milestones to come. The community will come together on Friday for the 150th celebration gala at the Williamstown town hall and at the school open day on Saturday to enjoy historic tours. No matter if a kid attended one year ago or 150 years ago, the school’s unofficial motto, ‘Once a Willy kid, always a Willy kid’ remains.