Wakehurst Public School
Encyclopedia
Wakehurst Public School is a co-educational primary school located in the Sydney
suburb of Belrose
, and draws its students predominantly from the surrounding suburbs of Belrose, Davidson
and Frenchs Forest. The school has approximately 335 enrolled pupils from kindergarten to Year 6.
, The Hon. Ernest Wetherell
, to have a third primary school built in the Forest district
. At the time, the existing schools were deemed to be insufficient: Frenchs Forest Public School (1916) was at capacity with 1000 students and 29 rooms and Belrose Public School (1952) was too small and undeveloped with only 67 students and 3 rooms. For these reasons the decision was taken to build a new school on Glen Street.
The school was opened as Belrose South Public School in January 1966 but was later renamed as Wakehurst Public School in July 1966. It was named after Lord Wakehurst
, who was a popular Governor of New South Wales between 1937 and 1946. The school recently celebrated its 40th year.
The Department of Education gave the school the loan of a demountable classroom to act as a library until the new library was built. The new library was started in 1982 and officially opened on the 16 November 1982. Among those present at the opening ceremony were: Paul Couvret (President of Warringah Shire Council
), G. Conomy (Assistant Director General of Education), Dr. Terry Metherell
(State Member for Davidson), The Reverend C. Knibb, M. Blanch (NSW Inspector of Schools) and the Principal of the day, Neville Trotter.
(1806–1808), Lachlan Macquarie
(1810–1821), John Hunter (1795–1800) and Arthur Phillip
(1788–1792).
The Wakehurst houses and their colours are as follows: Hunter (Yellow), Bligh (Blue), Phillip (Green) and Macquarie (Red).
The annual school swimming carnival is held early in Term 1. The annual athletics carnival is held mid-year at the State Sports Centre at Narrabeen. From these two carnivals, children are selected to represent Wakehurst at Zone level. A squad of long distance runners is also selected each year to represent the school in the Zone Cross-Country Carnival.
Students in Years 3-6 participate in intra-school sports programs as well as participating in the Primary School Sports Association (PSSA) inter-school competitions. Inter-school teams are selected for cricket, softball and T-ball in summer and soccer and netball in winter.
There is a large playground which includes an oval, cricket nets, two adventure playgrounds, a netball/basketball court, a shaded sandpit, a number of handball courts marked on the asphalt section and a Covered Outdoor Learning Area (COLA) which provides a covered space for sport, social and daily school activities.
The school shares its grounds with two small remnants of the now endangered Duffy's Forest ecological community, where ecologists have identified some 87 different plants.
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
suburb of Belrose
Belrose, New South Wales
Belrose is a suburb of the northern beaches, Sydney in the state of New South Wales, Australia, 19 kilometres north-east of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of Warringah Council, and is part of the Northern Beaches region...
, and draws its students predominantly from the surrounding suburbs of Belrose, Davidson
Davidson, New South Wales
Davidson is a suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Davidson is located 20 kilometres north-east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Warringah Council...
and Frenchs Forest. The school has approximately 335 enrolled pupils from kindergarten to Year 6.
History
Owing to the large growth in the Belrose and Frenchs Forest regions during the 1950s and 60s, in 1963 the decision was taken by the Minister for EducationMinister for Education (New South Wales)
The New South Wales Minister for Education has responsibilities which includes all schools and TAFE colleges in NSW.The current Minister for Education is Adrian Piccoli...
, The Hon. Ernest Wetherell
Ernest Wetherell
The Hon. Ernest "Ern" Wetherell was an Australian politician and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1949 until 1965...
, to have a third primary school built in the Forest district
Forest District (Sydney)
Forest District is a general term for an area in the northern suburbs of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. The Forest District is also referred to as The Forest...
. At the time, the existing schools were deemed to be insufficient: Frenchs Forest Public School (1916) was at capacity with 1000 students and 29 rooms and Belrose Public School (1952) was too small and undeveloped with only 67 students and 3 rooms. For these reasons the decision was taken to build a new school on Glen Street.
The school was opened as Belrose South Public School in January 1966 but was later renamed as Wakehurst Public School in July 1966. It was named after Lord Wakehurst
John de Vere Loder, 2nd Baron Wakehurst
John de Vere Loder, 2nd Baron Wakehurst KG, KCMG was a British Colonial administrator and politician. After serving in the army, the Foreign Office, and as a Conservative Member of Parliament in the House of Commons, Wakehurst was appointed as the last British Governor of New South Wales, which...
, who was a popular Governor of New South Wales between 1937 and 1946. The school recently celebrated its 40th year.
The fire
On Thursday 20 November 1980 at approximately 10:20pm a fire broke out in the School library. The fire completely destroyed the building along with almost all of its contents, including over 8000 books and a number of school records and historical items. The seat of the fire was under a cabinet in the library office. It is now thought that vandals broke a window and threw in rags, impregnated with something flammable.The Department of Education gave the school the loan of a demountable classroom to act as a library until the new library was built. The new library was started in 1982 and officially opened on the 16 November 1982. Among those present at the opening ceremony were: Paul Couvret (President of Warringah Shire Council
Warringah Council
Warringah is a local council area in the Northern Beaches region of Sydney, Australia. Warringah Council overlaps with a number of suburbs from the Manly Council area to the south and the Pittwater Council area to the north...
), G. Conomy (Assistant Director General of Education), Dr. Terry Metherell
Terry Metherell
Terry Alan Metherell is a former Australian politician who represented the Electoral district of Davidson in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1981 to 1992. When the Liberal Party won the 1988 election, Premier Nick Greiner appointed him Minister for Education and Youth Affairs, a...
(State Member for Davidson), The Reverend C. Knibb, M. Blanch (NSW Inspector of Schools) and the Principal of the day, Neville Trotter.
Principals
| Years | Wakehurst Public School |
|---|---|
| 1965−1971 | Marjorie Stuart |
| 1972−1974 | Len Jack |
| Jun−Dec 1974 | Richard Farrow (Acting) |
| 1975−1977 | John Rees |
| 1978−1983 | Neville Trotter |
| 1984−1986 | Belinda Myors |
| 1986−2005 | John Eagleton |
| Apr−Dec 2005 | Anne Moody (Acting) |
| 2006−present | Wendy Phillips |
Houses
The current house system is named after four of the five early Governors of New South Wales: William BlighWilliam Bligh
Vice Admiral William Bligh FRS RN was an officer of the British Royal Navy and a colonial administrator. A notorious mutiny occurred during his command of HMAV Bounty in 1789; Bligh and his loyal men made a remarkable voyage to Timor, after being set adrift in the Bounty's launch by the mutineers...
(1806–1808), Lachlan Macquarie
Lachlan Macquarie
Major-General Lachlan Macquarie CB , was a British military officer and colonial administrator. He served as the last autocratic Governor of New South Wales, Australia from 1810 to 1821 and had a leading role in the social, economic and architectural development of the colony...
(1810–1821), John Hunter (1795–1800) and Arthur Phillip
Arthur Phillip
Admiral Arthur Phillip RN was a British admiral and colonial administrator. Phillip was appointed Governor of New South Wales, the first European colony on the Australian continent, and was the founder of the settlement which is now the city of Sydney.-Early life and naval career:Arthur Phillip...
(1788–1792).
The Wakehurst houses and their colours are as follows: Hunter (Yellow), Bligh (Blue), Phillip (Green) and Macquarie (Red).
The annual school swimming carnival is held early in Term 1. The annual athletics carnival is held mid-year at the State Sports Centre at Narrabeen. From these two carnivals, children are selected to represent Wakehurst at Zone level. A squad of long distance runners is also selected each year to represent the school in the Zone Cross-Country Carnival.
Students in Years 3-6 participate in intra-school sports programs as well as participating in the Primary School Sports Association (PSSA) inter-school competitions. Inter-school teams are selected for cricket, softball and T-ball in summer and soccer and netball in winter.
School Grounds
The school campus is located along Glen street. The grounds include five main buildings: two K-2 classroom blocks, one incorporating the School's assembly hall; a classroom block incorporating the computer room; another Years 3-6 classroom block with a canteen at one end; and a main Administration block which includes the School's library and audio-visual room.There is a large playground which includes an oval, cricket nets, two adventure playgrounds, a netball/basketball court, a shaded sandpit, a number of handball courts marked on the asphalt section and a Covered Outdoor Learning Area (COLA) which provides a covered space for sport, social and daily school activities.
The school shares its grounds with two small remnants of the now endangered Duffy's Forest ecological community, where ecologists have identified some 87 different plants.
Notable alumni
- Lucas NeillLucas NeillLucas Edward Neill is an Australian Soccer player who currently plays for UAE Pro-League club Al Jazira. He is a full back. Neill had spent almost 15 years of his career playing in England. He represented Australia at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, the 2007 AFC Asian Cup, the 2010 World Cup in South...
- Australian footballer and captain of the Australian national team. - Cornelia RauCornelia RauCornelia Rau is a German citizen and Australian permanent resident who was unlawfully detained for a period of ten months in 2004 and 2005 as part of the Australian Government's mandatory detention program.- Overview :...
- German citizen who was unlawfully detained as part of the Australian Government's mandatory detention program.
See also
- List of Government schools in New South Wales
- Electoral district of DavidsonElectoral district of DavidsonDavidson is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is represented by Jonathan O'Dea of the Liberal Party of Australia.-Members for Davidson:-Election results:...
- Division of MackellarDivision of MackellarThe Division of Mackellar is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of New South Wales. It is located in the Northern Beaches region of Sydney, on the Pacific coast, south of Broken Bay and the Hawkesbury River. It includes the suburbs of Narrabeen, Beacon Hill, Newport, Palm Beach and...
- Warringah CouncilWarringah CouncilWarringah is a local council area in the Northern Beaches region of Sydney, Australia. Warringah Council overlaps with a number of suburbs from the Manly Council area to the south and the Pittwater Council area to the north...
External links
- Wakehurst Public School website
- New South Wales Department of Education and Training - Wakehurst Public School