MINUTES OF MEETING
ATHERTON STATE HIGH SCHOOL 50TH CELEBRATIONS
HELD ON NOVEMBER 11TH – 6.00 PM
STAFF COMMON ROOM – ATHERTON STATE HIGH SCHOOL

Present: Angel Kochi, Chris Pang Way, Graham Turner (Chair), Debbie Neal, Helen Walker, Judy Snelling, Kay Toolen, Tony Whybird (Principal)

Apologies: Anne Rocca, Ann Davis, Clive Skarrott, Adrian Holden, Owen Davies-Griffiths.
Minutes of previous meeting were pre-circulated and accepted as correct.

Agenda items from the floor:

1. Handbook/guidelines for conducting celebrations:
Debbie Neal informed the group that she was aware of a handbook or guidelines proforma which she thought was available through Ed Queensland. Debbie will look into how this may be obtained and contact with Kay with further information. Debbie also will check how to obtain information for a roll call.

2. Discussion of Blogspot
Kay has commenced a blogspot and gave the address to the group as well as a hardcopy of what it looks like. Kay also explained that readers are able to register as followers of the site and this will enable readers to contact each other as the next 11 months unfold. Kay has also been tracking people down through facebook and the names data base.

3. DVD to capture the event
Kay’s son has his own production business in Melbourne and has offered to capture the event in Sept 2009 and produce a professional DVD for sale. His only fee will be commission on sales.

4. Advertisement for Ed Views
Kay to organize an advertisement for inclusion in the Ed Views Publication and submit to Margaret Selby, who is the Business Services Manager at Atherton State High School.

5. Confidentiality Policy
Discussion took place on how we could best get the list of names of past students. Kay informed the group that all of the record cards from the commencemenet of the school were stored in the archive room and it would be a matter of listing the names and tracking the people down but there would be a confidential issue with people other than staff accessing these records and due to the time involved in undertaking this task it would impossible for staff to perform this duty. Tony offered to check the confidentiality policy.

6. High Top Students
A decision was made by the group to include the high top students.

7. Venue for Saturday Night Dinner
After a lengthy discussion, it was decided to organize different venues for the decades. Venues suggested included Atherton Community Hall, Merriland Hall, International Club and if needed the Golf Club.

8. Format for the Celebrations
 Discussion took place as to the format of the event. Suggestion on 5 year blocks with a facilitator appointed to bring the five years together with the assistance of an appointed coordinator for each year within the 5 year block i.e. 10 sub- committees consisting of a facilitator and 5 coordinators. The blocks could be classified as follows:-
1959 to 1965; 1966 to 1970; 1971 to 1975; 1976 to 1980; 1981 to 1985; 1986 to 1990; 1991 to 1995; 1996 to 2000; 2001 to 2005; 2006 to 2009.
 Tony would like see the current students involved on Thursday 18th and Friday 19th with a focus on showcasing the history of the school through the decades.
 Cocktail Party – This is be held on Friday 19th in the Community Hall with the hospitality students providing finger food and one of the service clubs providing the bar. The school’s swing band would also perform and provide background music.
 Garden Party – This to be held on the oval on Saturday 20th with displays of students work and memorabilia boards from the past. Eateries and drinks under several marquees would form the basis of the garden party. The marquees could be obtained from Tolga Hire. The SES will need to be contacted to control the traffic and parking. Paul Russell is the contact for the SES.
 Dinner with various bands and venues for Saturday evening. More discussion to take place with regard to the organization of the format of the evening.

9. Photos to be displayed on web site
Angel Kochi currently has a community web page and has offered to scan photos and place on this page as will Kay for the blogspot. Kay will incorporate a hyperlink to the community web page from the blogspot.

10. Closure and next meeting
Next meeting will be held on December 9th in the Staff Common room. Meeting closed at 7.45 pm.

Kay Toolen
Assistant coordinator.

Comments/emails received from ex students to date

What a great idea! I went to ASHS for yrs 9 & 10 in '78-'79, my doesn't it seem like a long time ago. Have recently tracked down some ASHS friends on FB so will try to forward on your message to them also.
This gives me plenty of time to get myself back up to Qld for the reunion.
Lorraine Merrett nee Robinson

Living in Cape Town at the moment, might not make it, but please post photos.
Regards,
Rick Pember

Got your message about the reunion - it sounds great. Can you add me to your mailing list for information on it? Also if you need help organising things let me know. I'm in Canberra, but could maybe help with emails or something?
Thanks,
Alison Doull

I’m interested in more information about the school reunion. I graduated in 1980. Any info would be appreciated.
Regards
Sue Dawson

I went to primary school 70 71 72 but my sister went to High school I will pass this message on to her"
Mark Hayes

Hello my brother and I went to Atherton High School back in the 70,s and would like some more imformation on the reunion please."
Joanne Parfitt

I was one of the original students that went to the new Atherton High School in 1959. I was in Atherton on Saturday evening for the 50 year Fireflies reunion and I caught up with Graham Turner who told me about the re-union. I am interested in assisting in anyway as I retire at the end of this year and it would interest me to help with this and catch up with my old classmates. Regards
Clive Skarott

I was at Atherton High from 1978-1981. Could you please send me more info.
Thanks
Cherie Onus Welham

Sounds good so far. First in first served and I haven't got anything else planned for that date yet. Nicholas Johns

At this stage I can say yes, email me details so I can pass on to contacts, or alternatively send me a list of people you can't find!
Henry,Cath & Devo

Pls add me to your mailing list for this event. I was at ASHS from 1964 to 1968 and was the first group of Yr 8's to attend ASHS in 1964. The paint was still wet on the "port" racks when we arrived!
Regards
Anne Novelly (Schwenke)

Yes, I'm interested in going to the reunion. I suppose it depends on the number of my crowd going. Do you have a list of those showing interest at this early stage?
Cheers
Weston Wright

My name is Laurie Preston and I did my Years 11 and 12 at Atherton in 1975/76 and I would love to come to the reunion that you are organising. My mate Weston Wright down in Brisbane sent me the info below and I would naturally like to find out a bit more. I live in Pinjarra in the south-west of WA and plan to drive over (through the Red Centre) for the get-together and hope to be there for the whole week (plus another one afterwards). Can you send me some more info on the reunion events that you are working on plus any info on accommodation in town or close by... I will be bringing my wife and we will probably pull up at friends places but an alternative is always good (for a break and to give the liver a rest!).

Well done for organising this because I have kept my eyes open for years in case a reunion came up ... I had a ball at ASHS and made friends that have lasted all this time. I've been living in WestOz since 1978 but have been back twice since then for a holiday. I will pass the info to anyone I am still in contact with that may be
interested.
Looking forward to hearing from you
Best Wishes
Laurie Preston

I am interested pse send more details when available.
Ray Beere

Atherton State High School 50th Anniversary Celebrations

MINUTES OF THE MEETING FOR THE FORMATION OF AN ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
FOR THE 50th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF
THE ATHERTON STATE HIGH SCHOOL


The meeting was held in the school common room on Tuesday, 21st October, 2008, at 6:00 pm.

Attendance: John Wadley (president of the current school P&C Association), Tony Wybird (our current School Principal), Chris Pang Way, Graeme Turner, Margaret Soper, Judy Snelling, Anne Davis, Kay Toolen & Helen Walker.

Business: John acted at chairperson and outlined the main aims of the meeting:-
(1) To choose office bearers and a working committee
(2) To decide when future meetings would be held
(3) To arrange publicity to attract more members and to disseminate information about dates and activities.

Minutes from the previous meeting of the past students’ interest group, which formed to prepare a submission to the Queensland Government for a share in some the funding available as part of the 150th celebration of State Government, were unavailable.

The meeting was conducted in an informal manner with discussion about the dates of our reunion and those of Mareeba High School. Principal Tony is keen to involve the present students in the celebration from the beginning, in areas which can enhance the curriculum such as in the study of local history, in entertainment with music and the arts and perhaps IT studies and some catering . This is planned for the last week of school before the school holidays in 2009, beginning Monday 14th September. Further discussion followed about other activities for the weekend of the 18th, 19th and 20th. A Meet and Greet Cocktail Evening on Friday, 18th September was a popular suggestion; an afternoon function such as a garden party on the school oval; displays and children’s work and an arts and crafts exhibition in some classrooms; a (dinner?) dance in the school hall on Saturday night. Class year (or year) groups then have the option of meeting on Saturday morning or Sunday for their own activities. The adding of an extra module to the time capsule is another plan.

By the time the meeting had proceeded to this point, all members present seemed willing to be part of the working committee under the chairmanship of Graeme Turner whose father was the first president of the original P&C as well as being Shire Chairman during the Centenary Celebrations of the Queensland Government in 1959. Anne Davis volunteered to be secretary, with assistance from Kay Toolen. Kay has much background knowledge of important historical information collected from previous years and of research projects carried out, data collected and produced in various forms by skilled and talented people associated with the school over the years and she has agreed to be coordinator for our reunion committee. Judy Snelling showed special interest in producing a commemorative magazine and so our first working party had formed.

All agreed that the future meetings be held on the second Tuesday of the month at 6pm in the Common Room in the administration block, so the next two meetings will be on November 11th and December 9th. There will be no meeting in January.

Kay and Anne have been asked to begin work on publicity and will contact the Tablelander's Naomi Cescotto, (or other member of the staff of the Tablelander newspaper) and arrange for an article to be written about the upcoming celebration of 50 years of High School Education in its own campus. This will include an invitation for interested past students, teachers or other community members who have been involved in some way with the school since its beginning in 1959 and still maintain an interest in its future, to attend meetings to help the committee gather momentum and enthusiasm among the many people for whom our Atherton State High School has played a significant part in their formative years.

This must be in the Tablelander by Nov 4th, in order for it to be effective in bringing more members to our next meeting on Nov 11th and in contacting others from far and wide.

Our meeting closed at about 7:15 pm.