Wollemi Pine Marks Dapto High's Resilience
Illawarra Mercury
Monday May 19, 2008
NSW Governor Marie Bashir said she felt the warmth of the Dapto High School community during the school's 50th anniversary celebrations on Saturday night.
More than 500 people, some of whom travelled from North America and Europe, came to a special dinner held at Dapto Leagues Club, to see Mrs Bashir present a prehistoric Wollemi pine to the school.She described it as a "symbol of longevity, resilience and Australian-ness".Yesterday the pine was planted at the school's ceremonial lawn and will be called the Governor's Tree.Upon planting the pine, girls' school captain Laura James said she would return in 2058 with her grandchildren for a picnic at the spot.A new memorial garden, featuring a sculpture in the shape of an egg called Loss and Renewal, was also established to honour teachers, students and staff who died at a time when they were still working or studying at the school.Yesterday's celebrations also included a picnic, hot rod display and celebrity football match involving St George Illawarra rugby league players.It attracted almost 3000 across the whole day, school principal Andrew FitzSimons said."We got people from all over the world," he said."Families and friends were getting together and catching up using the excuse of the 50th anniversary."
© 2008 Illawarra Mercury