Snippets of History
Tanunda Lutheran School Established 1845
Celebrating 75 years since re-opening in 1938
Written by Ronda Mugford as fortnightly conversations for the school newsletter.
Mr Don Ross, TLS Student, 1948
Foreward When the pioneer Lutheran settlers of Langmeil decided to build a school for the Christian education of their children it was truly an act of faith. Despite their meagre resources and the difficulties of establishing themselves in a virgin landscape; within two years of arrival they built a school which was operating in 1845. I was a student at Tanunda Lutheran School from 1944-1950, during the difficult and austere years of the latter part of World War II and the post war period while there was rationing of goods in short supply. Compared with today’s school it was a humble undertaking with a staff of just 2 teaching 40-50 students. My first teacher was Miss Veronica Stolz. The only “modern” technology in use was the radio. In those days there were school broadcasts. I enjoyed the programme “The world we live in”. The presenter was H.D. Black, (his surname was originally Schwarz). Before my attendance at the school my father Laurence Ross attended from 1913 with teachers JFW Schulz and Miss Emma Geyer. His schooling was interrupted in 1917 when the school was closed because of Government policy. My grandmother Anna nee Dier also attended the same school while Teacher Geyer was in charge; and in turn her mother Johanne Louise nee Mattner completed her schooling with Teacher Andresen from 1854, when her family settled at Schoenborn (Gomersal). After leaving school; during the 1860’s she spent two years working as a domestic servant in the home of Teacher Andresen at Palmenthal, (adjacent to Rose Bridge, Jane Place). He grew an extensive garden on his property. Since I left school there have been tremendous changes in technology, affluence, population, attitudes and aspirations. All these changes have brought new challenges to churches, schools and teachers. Ronda Mugford the Tanunda Lutheran School’s Archivist/Historian has carefully chronicled the history of the school from the times of the earliest teachers to the present time. During this time teaching methods have changed and there have been numerous building projects. As the school celebrates the 75th jubilee of its reopening in 1938, which was another act of faith, it is my prayer that the school will continue its Christian witness and be a blessing to its students and the wider community.
Donald A. Ross
A Peck of Principals For our younger students, Mr Stevenson is the only principal they have known at TLS. Older students will remember school days with Mr Davis or Mr Ellendon in the front office. For many years our school has been well served by its principals and each has brought particular strengths to their role. During this term I should like to introduce you to the principals of the past who have all helped to establish and shape our school. We do not have photographs of the first two teachers of Langmeil School (as TLS was then known) who were Ferdinand Kavel, brother to Pastor Kavel, and Alexander Schultze. We do have a photograph of the first school and teacher’s residence built in 1845 which stood where the Early Learning Centre garden is now. It was demolished in 1911. Note the thatched roof and the school bell! In 1851 the teacher was Georg Christian Heinrich Andresen and he remained at our school for 22 years. He looks remarkably happy despite the fact that part of his salary package was the use of 11 acres of land to grow food for his family. During his tenure, in 1865, the new school was built, which we know as the Kavel Room. The contractor was Mr Kassebaum and the stones came from Schubert’s quarry. The cost was £244. (Mrs Cole would be happy with that!) We look forward to the Kavel Room upgrade next year to preserve this special place in our history.
Ronda Mugford
A Peck of Principals
contd….
The early history of the school reveals that it was not always easy to find teachers and especially head teachers as they were then called. After Mr Andresen left, an elder of the congregation, Wililhelm Korten, took charge until Mr August C F Geyer, a teacher at Rosenthal, accepted the call to Langmeil in 1873. His salary was set at £52 plus 6d. a week for each child attending. That was an incentive for increased enrolments! As church organist he was paid an extra £10 a year. Mr Geyer remained at the school until his daughter, Emma Geyer, took charge until 1911.
Miss Geyer was a remarkable lady in her vision and commitment. Immanuel College are proud to claim that she was their first female secondary student. She went to America for a time to care for her nieces and nephews when her sister died. You can see from the captions that these people were past masters at multi tasking! Mr J F W Schulz arrived from teaching in Queensland in 1911 and Miss Geyer became his assistant. Mr Schulz must have been keen on technology because he took some of the very first movie footage of the school in operation. This period takes us up to 1917 when the school was closed because government requirements could not be accommodated.
This photo from 1917 shows Mr Schulz and Miss Geyer with their students.
Thank you to everyone who has returned the Family History sheet. Please keep them coming in! Some students are just beginning their history with TLS and others are continuing in a family tradition. Together we are weaving the tapestry of what we are and of what we will become. Last week we read about teacher Mr A C F Geyer and his daughter, Emma, also a teacher at our school. This week I was excited to see Ben and Joshua Geyer’s family tree which reveals that they are in fact great, great, great grandsons of this very August Christian Frederick. Doesn’t this add a wonderful personal note to our story! Ben is in
Year 6 and Joshua in Year 4.
When our school reopened in 1938, it was at the instigation of both the Langmeil and St John’s Lutheran congregations. They agreed that the teacher must be an outstanding professional with notable qualifications. The curriculum was to be as in State schools but also to include the teaching of religion in the German language, German reading and writing using the Latin script. There would be an annual examination of the students conducted by the church people in these subject areas. The salary was to be £230 per annum. Mr E Prenzler of Queensland was duly installed as the teacher in February, but a polio epidemic meant that the school opened in mid March, beginning with 37 students across all classes.
We are looking forward to our Special Person’s Day next week when a number of people from this 1938 group will come back to visit us. They are keen to see the changes at TLS, to meet each other again and generally marvel at the swift passing of the years. Our school leaders will have a time to talk to them and record some special memories and recollections which will be a valuable addition to our history collection. Mr Prenzler remained at the school for eleven years and saw many changes as enrolments rose, a new classroom was built and the school became more involved in social events. The second World War affected the thinking of the school community as German connections were regarded with suspicion, and the teaching of the German language ceased. There was quite some discussion about the pros and cons of homework and in 1943 the Education Department Inspector stated that The modern idea is that children devote their leisure to a hobby or any useful work. Would our students today agree?
A Peck of Principals contd….
Our list of principals so far have all been gentlemen, but before the ladies are introduced, I would like to go back a step and share with you some photographs which I came across at the Lutheran Archives just recently. These were taken in 1913 and you may recognise Mr J F W Schulz in the group. This was a gathering of Lutheran Day School principals and they certainly look serious enough to be called a “Peck of Principals” A Lieutenant Woolley is taking a physical drill session with the group. I’m not sure how this activity would be received at a Principals’ Conference today, although it might be appropriate in this Olympic year!
Mr Schulz is standing next to the verandah post on the right.
A well earned rest on the grass. The 6/7 classrooms are now on this site.
After Mr Prenzler left at the end of 1948, Miss Myrtle Rosenzweig took on the role of head mistress for 1949, with Miss Klemm as the infant teacher. Miss Gavrita Jericho became the head mistress in 1950. A few years later she travelled to America and the head teacher position moved back to the male domain.
Miss Rosenzweig attended the 50th Anniversary celebrations in 1988 and “taught” a class of old scholars
Miss Jericho, then Mrs Graetz, died just 2 months ago in her nineties.
A Peck of Principals contd ‌.
Mr Norman Auricht had been a teacher at our school when Miss Jericho was principal, and when she left he was appointed as head teacher in 1954. He served in this position for twelve years. Like the earlier head teachers he had many expectations placed upon him and was the choir master at Langmeil church as well as one of the organists. During this period opportunities for community involvement grew and the students were offered several trips to the city and even a bus trip interstate to the snow. The annual concerts became a highlight and the reputation of the gymnastic team (for boys) became well known. Woodwork and Sewing classes continued and many garden plots were attempted by the students. Planting was fun but weeding and watering more tedious! Sports Days with other Lutheran schools were introduced. Mr Auricht and his wife have visited the school regularly when back in South Australia and earlier this year he brought his slide collection for our archives. Gymnastic display
Hoops and maypole dance
Lunch at Glenelg beach.
Woodwork results!
Boys plant a vegie patch.
Ready for travel on Kuchel’s bus. Flowers near the flagpole. Greetings and God bless, Ronda Mugford.
This week we have a group photograph of past principals. Mr Auricht, whom we featured last week, is fourth from the left and played a big part in the 50th anniversary celebrations.
IN 1988 TANUNDA LUTHERAN SCHOOL CELEBRATED THE 50 TH ANNIVERSARY OF ITS RE-OPENING. IN THIS PICTURE ARE THE SIX PRINCIPALS OF THE SCHOOL WHO ATTENDED THE CELEBRATION. THE OLDEST OF THESE WAS THE LADY ON THE RIGHT, MISS ROSENZWEIG, AS SHE WAS THEN – WHO WAS PRINCIPAL IN 1949. Mr Trevor Winderlich was appointed as principal in 1967. He and his family had been living in New Guinea where they had been part of the mission outreach of the Church. Mr Winderlich is the first person on the left in the group photograph. The years of the seventies brought many changes in thinking and this was reflected in educational practice. The philosophy of “learning by doing” was the guiding principle and the students were kept busy with many activities. Making puppets and writing scripts for performance was a highlight and the School Recorder and Marching Band won cups and prizes. Miss Modra (a sister to Mrs Thurlow) organised for her class to build a mud brick house (lots of maths!) which stood for a number of years about where the JP playground is now. In 1977 the spacious new classrooms along Jane Place were completed and the school took on a new image. Mr Kunze (second from right) accepted the position of Acting Principal in 1978 and remembers that TLS scholar, Matthew Falland, won the title of Junior Under 13 South Australian Schoolboy Javelin Champion. What do you think, Mrs Smart?
SCHOOL RECORDER BAND MARCHING IN TANUNDA BAND CONTEST
Greetings and God bless, Ronda Mugford
A Peck of Principals contd ….
Our story so far has taken us up to 1979 when Mr Richard Hammer, a principal in the SA Education Department, accepted the call to Tanunda Lutheran School. He was the first principal without teaching responsibilities and, with an enrolment of 149 pupils, was able to concentrate on administration and developmental aspects of the school. His late wife, June, was appointed as a part time teacher in the Prep class which had begun two years earlier. For a considerable period of years the Lutheran system operated under a Call System whereby principals and teachers were invited by school councils to fulfil a position in the school. The conviction was that such a call and response was the result of prayerful consideration and was, in fact, a call from God. Our Lutheran pastors still operate under this manner. Our school system then was small enough for teachers to exist by reputation and in many ways this kind of accountability may have been more demanding and not so different in essence from our performance based assessment today. During Richard Hammer’s time here, the double classroom block (now the Year 5 and 5/6 rooms) was built, the library area established and a special education room set aside. This building program meant the demolition of the New Guinea House along Jane Place. German language and culture as a THIS HOUSE WAS CALLED THE NEW GUINEA HOUSE BECAUSE IT WAS USED BY MISSIONARIES FROM THERE WHEN THEY CAME TO subject was once again Richard Hammer AUSTRALIA FOR A HOLIDAY. THE SCHOOL PURCHASED THE HOUSE introduced into the curriculum AND THEN PULLED IT DOWN TO MAKE WAY FOR THE CLASSROOMS AT and the first teacher assistant (now LSO) was appointed. THE WESTERN END OF THE MAIN BUILDING. Forty five applicants applied for this position! Photo and text supplied by Mr Geoff Munzberg Mr Bill Etschied, a classroom teacher at TLS, agreed to assume the role of principal when Mr Hammer left at the end of 1983 to establish a new Lutheran school at Middle Park in Queensland. The late Mr Etschied is probably best remembered for his great musical ability and under his leadership TLS was certainly a singing school. The students will remember his American accent and his Principal’s Award stickers. The development of the playground area was undertaken during these years. What is now our Nature Area was under vineyard which the congregations worked and contributed the funds to the school. The vines were cleared and the students planted the area to native trees and shrubs under Mr Rodney Semmler’s direction. Plans included the division of the playground into junior and upper primary areas, the grassing and fencing of the “bottom oval” and the erection of fixed playground equipment. The Governor’s visit in 1984 was an exciting time with everyone on their best behaviour.
Do you recognise Mrs Minge with the Year 6 girls?
Greetings and God bless, Ronda Mugford
A Peck of Principals contd ‌.
Mr Carl Petering arrived as principal after Mr Etscheid and, like all the principals, had a vision for the future direction and development of the school. He wrote of his ideas to update the playground, rebuild the junior school incorporating an Art Centre and Multipurpose Hall and acquire adjoining property. He was particularly passionate about catering to the needs of children and was keen to establish a Learning Assistance Program. One day he drove a student to Adelaide for an assessment session because the parents were unable to do so. On the way home he drove to an Adelaide beach when he discovered that this student had never seen the sea. The pleasure and amazement of the child was his reward. Mr Petering also thought about the implications of technology in education and asked the question: Do we need computers? Many of his ideas have come to fruition. As we write, Mr Petering is in precarious health, and we add our prayers for his recovery.
Mr Nevin Nitschke then took up the leadership role and spent eleven years guiding and directing our school and caring for Staff and Students alike. He was a great writer of prayers and devotions and told excellent stories. He also had plans and visions which included Middle Schooling for the Barossa Lutheran Schools (Can you guess what we are talking about now?), relocating to a larger site and introducing composite classes to accommodate growing numbers. Mr Nitschke was adept at interpreting long and involved documents and simplified the new SACSA curriculum for overwhelmed teachers. Lutheran Education also produced curriculum frameworks such as Lifelong Qualities for Learners and these became our umbrella. He was a technology whizz and charted student progress on impressive data graphs (in 3 or more colours!) which were included in end of year reports. Mr Nitschke had a great sense of humour and comedy Staff items for end of year functions and dinners were an expected event. Mr Petering may have been known for his dignified bearded appearance, but Mr Nitschke will be remembered for his almost flamboyant moustache!
At the end of 2004 Mr Nitschke left to manage a Church Youth site near Canberra and Mr Richard Davis stepped in as Acting Principal. Mr Davis was first introduced to us when he taught Mrs Biagi’s Reception class for a term. Perhaps that is why he never lost sight of the realities of classroom teaching! Greetings, Ronda Mugford
Whole school photo 1995
A Peck of Principals - all present! This week we bring our list of TLS principals up to date. From knowing some personally and from reading and hearing about others, we see common threads that each has brought to our school. We have been blessed to have had men and women of Christian principles to faithfully serve our school. All have shown vision and commitment and all have realised the value and importance of the school community. Each in their own way have held the interest and well being of our children at heart and this is what endures after buildings and educational innovations are no longer in evidence. Mr Rory Ellendon served as principal from 2006 until Mr Stevenson arrived in April, 2010. Mr Ellendon was faced with some major decisions about the best use of our school site. The decision not to relocate the school meant that the existing buildings needed to be well utilised and renovations carried out. Mr Ellendon was always to be seen with his tape measure to hand and his bunch of keys at the ready. Of course the most dramatic of the projects supervised by Mr Ellendon was our Harvest Centre Hall, resulting from the government injection of funds for Building the Education Revolution as part of the Economic Stimulus Plan. Today we can hardly imagine the daily operation of our school without this much used space. The library was also refurbished emphasising space and appeal.
Mr Ellendon with the 2009 school leaders: Samuel Arthurson, Bonnie Eather, Philip Grace and Sofie Kraft.
Mr Stevenson was installed as principal at a worship service in the Langmeil Church. He arrived with enthusiasm and a determination to raise the profile of our school. We are certainly a “happening place� with changes all around us. Many are in the learning areas with the introduction of Notebooks and iPads as well as curriculum approaches. The establishment of the Early Learning Centre has brought a new dimension to our school and the building program continues with the Mr Stevenson with his wife, Natalie and car park and walkway being constructed. What is the next idea that children, Mitchell and Chloe. Mr Stevenson has up his sleeve? It is sure to be an exciting one. Mr Stevenson takes care to greet children and parents each morning and farewell them in the afternoon. We thank him that he, too, has the students at heart and is passionate about putting Christ at the centre of the education we offer.
Mr Stevenson speaking at the Opening of the ELC.
Happy holidays and God bless, Ronda Mugford
Our excellent new walkway is almost completed and gives visual coherence to our latest buildings. Construction work on a school site is always a sign of growth, progress and expanding enrolments. This term we will have a look at how our TLS site has developed over the years and adapted to changing needs and educational directions. The first addition to the Kavel room was a shelter shed on the southern side. In 1941 a wooden partition in the Kavel room allowed for a separate teaching space for the junior grades. By 1945 the need for a second classroom was evident and with the help of busy bees, donations of time and goods and much parent and community support, the new building was opened in May, 1948. For many years students knew this classroom as “Miss Renner’s room”. By 1955, with an enrolment of 74 children, a new library, woodwork and cloakroom building was opened. The first photograph of the foundations also shows the favourite playground tree with seats beneath. A water bag was hung from the branches to supply children with cool water in the summer terms. The new construction was of galvanised iron —just what we have used on our new walkway!
In 1956, with three teachers now on staff, an additional classroom was required. While this was being built, Miss Jacob’s class was accommodated across the road in the old Langmeil Church hall, now converted to the Langmeil Archives. The new timber clad classroom was opened in 1957. The old shelter shed was replaced with a new structure tying in all the classrooms and also providing the luxury of a staffroom/office area.
View from Maria Street View from what is now the ELC garden playground
Greetings and God bless, Ronda Mugford.
This week I would like to begin by acknowledging Geoff and Helen Munzberg who have provided a large number of valuable photographs for our archival collection, some of which will be used in this series of “Snippets”. Geoff was the school chairperson for many years and instigated most of the ambitious building programs for our school. Helen was a teacher here (1960—62) and both she and Geoff have been faithful LAP tutors supporting our students. Geoff also assists Matt Halman in running our Monday lunchtime chess club. Thank you, Geoff and Helen for your time, interest and commitment. We have always placed an important emphasis on the opening and dedication of our buildings and the photos of the dedication of the timber classroom in 1957 shows 2 organists (teachers Mr Auricht and Miss Jacob) and 2 pastors (Pastors Henschke and Zanker). Mr Frank Munzberg, Geoff’s father, is speaking from the podium.
By now a fourth classroom was required and provision was made by converting a section of the cloak and woodwork room into a teaching area for the new staff member, Miss J Mickan. Woodwork was regarded as an important part of the curriculum (girls had sewing classes!) and a 40 foot by 20 foot wood and iron building was erected in 1959. Playground space seems always to have been at a premium and over the years additional land was made available for use by the Langmeil Church, including the “Irrgang” block and land toward the river formerly owned by Mr H G Pfeiffer. A tennis court was constructed on the Irrgang block in 1955 and was much appreciated by the students as a play area.
Students with completed models outside the woodwork room
In 1965 a Trust Home unit was purchased and prepared for use as a temporary fifth classroom at a cost of £300. This stood at the western end of the classroom block. The asphalt yard was the ideal place for marching practice, Monday morning assemblies to salute the flag, physical exercise lessons listening to the radio broadcasts, dancing the maypole, and gymnastic and tumbling displays. The pillar in the right of the photo is part of the New Guinea House which was later also used for instruction space.
Greetings and God bless, Ronda Mugford
During the 1970s a major building program was undertaken. For some time the need for more space and facilities had been recognised and the first plan to relocate the school had been put forward. (Over the years the proposal to relocate the school has been considered three times!) Land had been purchased in the northern area of Tanunda with a frontage to Murray Street, and much effort, energy and expertise was expended in investigating the advisability of resiting the school. Finally the decision was made to remain and the school land and buildings were purchased from the Langmeil congregation. Extra land abutting the river had been purchased from Mr Schrapel and a masterplan was now drawn up. As a temporary measure a classroom acquired from St John’s school in Unley was erected behind the New Guinea House. The current cream brick toilet block was built at a cost of $11 465 by Dillingham Constructions. An architect, Mr Bussenschutt, was engaged to draw up building plans and an application was prepared for the Commonwealth Grants Commission, but this proved to be unsuccessful. By 1975 the School Council adopted the development policy and Civil & Civic Engineering were instructed to manage the project. The ambitious Building Appeal was launched with an initial target of $50 000. Local congregations and friends of the school supported the appeal generously and a Federal Capital Grant of $20 000 for new library facilities was received. After many months of planning, preparation and prayer, construction work began in November, 1976. There was great excitement in the playground as students and staff watched earthmovers, cranes, trucks and an assortment of machinery at work in their school ground. The photographs clearly show the scope of the building works.
By the 10th May, 1977, classes had moved into the new, spacious accommodation. The project had cost $275 000. Greetings and God bless, Ronda Mugford
It often seems to be the case that when a school begins a new project and new buildings appear, enrolment numbers quickly begin to rise. At the end of the 1970s and beginning of the 80s, TLS was definitely the place to be - just as it is now! Student numbers were predicted to reach 200 by 1982 and more facilities were required. The New Guinea House was demolished and the building of two new classrooms, store rooms and a porch area was begun. This structure was adjoined to the 1977 building and one long block along Jane Place resulted in an imposing and uniform façade. Within 3 months the building was completed at a total cost of $146 000. (Now the Year 5 and 5/6 classrooms)
THE NEW GUINEA HOUSE BEING PULLED DOWN IN ABOUT 1978
A narrow driveway remained at the northern end joining the Arnold property. Many students will remember the never ending stream of balls that flew over the fence and the prolific lemon tree that stretched out to scratch reaching arms. The Arnold property was later purchased by the school and the 6/7 classroom block now stands on that site. Property acquisition was an important part of the school’s policy and in the 1980’s a residence in Rosalie Avenue was purchased and a block of 3 units in Maria Street. These were to provide for teacher housing. The other aim was to enlarge the school grounds and the Obst property along Jane Place added to our play area while the Gallasch and Auricht properties along Maria Street have made space for the Early Learning Centre and the new car park.
One of many “Busy Bees”
The next big building project was focussed on the front of school and the Junior Primary facilities. This was an extensive undertaking and required confidence and vision on the part of the school community. A Planning Committee was formed in early 1995. The entrance and office had been from Jane Place but this was now planned to front Maria Street. The Kavel Room was to be renovated, spacious office and reception areas provided and classrooms, toilets and Art Room built for the JP students. The principal’s residence was to be incorporated as a classroom and walking into Mrs Borgas and Mrs Ide’s room now, it is difficult to imagine that it was once a four roomed house with a passage down the middle! (The cellar remains but is unused.) Demolition work began, spaces in the main building were reorganised and foundations poured. The photos below show the teacher preparation area and Kavel Room in the background with the corner of the present Art Room on the left.
As the face lift proceeded in the Kavel Room, the old blackboard, complete with artistic chalk drawings, was uncovered. This remains and you might like to pop in and take a look! Disruption to students and teachers, and constant noise went on for some time, but, balanced against that was the excitement and activity of the new buildings taking shape.
Former office being converted to present staffroom
Landscaping the grounds.
The new buildings were opened on Sunday, 2nd February, 1997. The section of Maria Street in front of the school was closed to traffic and approximately 400 people were seated to attend the open air service. The chairperson, Mr Neville Jaeschke, unveiled the plaque which is now hanging in the foyer area. It is the wooden scroll with the verse from Matthew 19 v14: “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Greetings and God bless, Ronda Mugford.
We move forward now to 2005 when the first of the transportable classrooms arrived in February. These were to provide accommodation for the two Year 6/7 classes whose teachers were Mrs Blenkiron and Mr Jonas. The arrival of the building sections provided great excitement for students and staff, and proved to be a breathtaking feat of manipulative and expert driving on the part of the truck drivers. The first challenge was to bring the building sections on the semi trailers into the grounds via the narrow driveway off Jane Place. It was a tight squeeze as the photographs clearly show!
Each section was manoeuvred into place, jacked up and then secured in position. The senior block soon took shape and internal fixings and finishing touches were the next step.
The students lost no time in moving in and the buildings were officially opened by Mr Barry Kahl, the then Director of Lutheran Education. Standing next to him is Mr Ted Buck, Chairperson. Greetings, Ronda Mugford
The prospect of relocating the school to an available site adjacent to Faith Lutheran College had created a lot of interest and research, but the final decision to “stay put� again made space a priority. The Federal Government BER grants (Building the Education Revolution) were the catalyst for the next stages of construction. TlS became a hive of activity! Owing to the generosity of Ahrens Engineering and people supporting the building appeal, a number of projects were able to be undertaken in 2009, including the senior transportable block, the Harvest Centre, senior porch and computer room upgrade and the library refurbishment. To start the ball rolling, the Arnold House was demolished and the site prepared for the transportable classrooms. Mr Ellendon is inspecting the beginning of the salvage process.
The first surprise was that the building arrived from the river end of Jane Place. The manoeuvrable space was very tight and the sight of the crane lifting the structure up and over the existing classrooms was a dramatic moment. The two did in fact collide at one point and children were not allowed inside until all potential hazards were past!
Thank you to all families who completed the “Family History� form sent out earlier in the year. We have a number of four generation families and are still discovering more connections. We are always interested to learn and hear more about the TLS history and your involvement in the school, so you are welcome to add information at any time. We come to the final part of the building story which many students will have witnessed first hand. The Harvest Centre hall amazed us all in its size and scope and allowed us teaching options and a greater variety of learning activities. Now we cannot imagine how we managed without this facility. Ahrens Engineering was engaged to build the structure and soon the site was prepared and the massive fabricated beams arrived. As always with our site, it was a tight squeeze, but the solutions provided much entertainment for all on campus.
The school choir sang at the opening on 29th June, 2010. Guests included news presenters Jayne Dole and John Riddell and government representative, Senator Dana Wortley. Our School leaders were Lucas Puliatti and Abby Moore. (contd. next page)
The concept of an Early Learning Centre was an exciting development, which added a new dimension to our school population. The Auricht house fronting Maria Street had been converted to learning and meeting rooms but now needed to make way for the new building. The original house had been built for Pastor Kavel in 1854. Years later it became known as the Irrgang House and in the 1950’s was renovated and rebuilt by the Hugo Auricht family. Abby Auricht in Mrs Biagi’s class is the great grand-daughter of Hugo and Aileen and a third generation student here. The house was demolished but hopefully the many and rich stories remain.
The ELC Garden, designed by Aleisha Lynch, a former TLS student, was made possible by a generous bequest. The Centre was dedicated by Mr Stevenson’s father, Pastor Alex Stevenson, at the opening on June 17th, 2011. Are there more buildings to come? This week’s announcement outlines a focus on outdoor teaching and learning spaces. However that will look, we can be sure that TLS will not stand still! Wishing you Christmas blessings, Ronda Mugford