By Emilie Ng
LEADING a school has its challenges, but principal at St Mary’s Catholic College, Kingaroy, Michael Nayler has a new challenge to fit into his already busy schedule.
Mr Nayler and St Mary’s College staff are contacting all past pupils and staff to celebrate 50 years since the secondary school opened.
The school also celebrates 25 years since St Mary’s parish primary and secondary schools amalgamated in 1990.
St Mary’s primary school was opened in 1929 by the Good Samaritan Sisters, and their Benedictine charism still lives on in the college today.
The school has already been inundated with phone calls from students who have kept memorabilia of their school days. The college opened in 1965.
“In the last two days we’ve had phone calls about a 1972 to 1973 class meeting book, and a lady from the ’60s who kept a notebook from a little social justice club,” Mr Nayler said.
He hopes these past community members and many more whom the college has not contacted will join them for the official combined anniversary celebrations on May 30 and 31.
The school will host the Nanango Races on May 30 followed by an official anniversary Mass, and finish with a ’60s rock’n’roll-themed dance party.
Coinciding with the school’s annual open day on May 31, past pupils are also invited to participate in a past students roll call.
Mr Nayler said the college had grown to become a highly respected entity of the Kingaroy community.
“I think that our history, being around for 86 years in the community now, that’s a long time, and we have played a pretty big role,” he said.
