School Captains, Emma Gill and Yasmyn Philp, welcomed the Governor of Queensland, Paul de Jersey, to the Aratula State School on Friday.
On the Governor’s departure, Year 6 student, Byron McIntosh, the school’s flag officer, presented him with the Australian flag which had flown throughout the visit.
It was an official visit and all the protocols were met but it was a visit without pomp and ceremony as the Governor and his wife, Kaye, spent almost an hour in the classrooms and chatting with the students.
“They joined us for the morning Assembly,” says Principal Damien Butler. “Our School Captains conducted the Assembly before the Governor and his wife visited the Prep class, toured our refurbished library and joined the Year 5-6 class to view the display of their work.”
The Governor spoke of the value of small schools in his address to the students.
“There is something very special about ‘small schools’. While small in number they are invariably big in spirit, and Aratula State School is a great example of this.”
And he acknowledged the impact of the bushfire disaster on the Aratula community and many others in the Fassifern.
“As we all know, since last Spring, many parts of Australia have been affected by unprecedented bushfires. The Scenic Rim was sadly no exception.
“Members of your own community came face to face with nature at her most frightening and unpredictable.
“Some among you were evacuated.
“Others saw parents bravely head out to the fire-front with the Rural Fire Service.
“And many of you lived with the reality of fire trucks and closed roads for many weeks.
“Now, I wouldn’t be surprised if some of you – like me – have found the bushfires pretty frightening.
“I think it’s fair to say most Australians are feeling the same way right now.
“We think of precious wildlife that has been lost.
“We feel for people who have lost family and friends.
“We worry for those who have lost homes and businesses.
“So, if you’re feeling that way, remember you are not alone.
“At times like these, you are especially lucky to be part of a close community like Aratula.”
The Governor described the Aratula State School as a wonderful school, full of teachers and friends who shared the bushfire experience with the students and understood how they may be feeling.
“As I said earlier – small schools are big on spirit.”
Following the Governor’s visit, Principal Damien Butler, spoke of the experience the students and staff had shared with their guests.
“It was a wonderful opportunity. Our Captains Emma and Yasmyn had researched the role of the Governor and in introducing him, explained his role to the students.
“And the students had the chance to chat with the Governor and his wife, Kaye. In the Prep classroom they listed to the story being read first by the teacher and then by the students whose turn it was to read that day.
“Mrs de Jersey is a former teacher-librarian and she joined in the reading and spoke with the students.
“In the Year 5-6 classroom, the students had set up a display of their work and talked with their visitors about it.”
Mr Butler added that the Governor presented the school with a signed copy of a beautifully illustrated book on the history of Government House.
And Mr Butler is now reviewing the year’s curriculum to find a day when the school can take up an invitation from the Governor to take part in a tour of Government House.
“The students were excited about the invitation especially when the Governor said that the tour includes a morning tea of biccies and cake,” Mr Butler said with a smile.
• Aratula State School has three teaching staff and 47 students.
• Two of the teachers and 16 students were directly affected by the bushfires.
• Ten of the students were evacuated from their homes and two of the fathers of students worked with the Rural Fire Brigade.
• During the bushfires, Mr Butler spoke with staff each day to discuss the impact of the smoke haze. Some days were spent entirely inside the buildings due to the thick smoke and the danger of embers falling in the school grounds.