Published on 26 September 2022
Christies Beach Primary School turns 60
Christies Beach Primary School invites the community to come along and celebrate their 60th Anniversary.
Christies Beach Primary School is celebrating its 60th birthday on Friday 21 and Saturday 22 October, featuring a host of activities to delight past, present and future students and their families.
Friday 21 October activities kick-off at 11.30 am in the school gym and include a Wakakirri video performance, live Indonesian performers and a drumming act.
You can follow the 60 years of school history via a video, enjoy a free sausage sizzle lunch, take a tour of the school and watch a ceremonial tree planting.
Minister for Health and Wellbeing Chris Picton MP will be on hand to reveal the contents of the school’s 2001 time capsule.
Saturday 22 October activities start at 10.30 am in the school gym. Member for Reynell Katrine Hildyard MP will be speaking along with more performances, videos, addresses from former principals and decade by decade dancing acts.
You can be part of the cutting of the 60th anniversary cake and groove along to a performance by the Coast and Vines Music Club Band. Don’t forget to grab your free ice cream before the event wraps up at 12.30 pm.
Christies Beach Primary School opened in 1961 to cater for the growing population of multicultural immigrants, who were attracted to the area by employment offered at the Port Stanvac Oil Refinery and the Chrysler car manufacturing plant. The school initially opened with six teachers and 150 students.
One of those first students was Sonia Radford, currently the leader of the Coast and Vines Music Club Brass Band.
“It was very exciting for me to start my schooling on the opening day of Christies Beach Primary School in 1961, as both older sisters who had previously been at Port Noarlunga Primary, also transferred to the brand-new school," Sonia said.
"I was in Lower 1 with Mrs Kidd, who was just out of Teachers College and she made everything so interesting.
The teachers were enthusiastic throughout my seven years and, in addition to the three R's, we were taught folk dancing, health and singing over the radio, many sports. Mrs Smith started the school fife and drum band, which influenced me to ultimately to go to teachers’ college to become an instrumental music teacher.
We’re looking forward to playing at the school’s 60th birthday celebrations."
For more information on the birthday celebrations email Samantha Badics or phone 8382 1511.
Pictured
Christies Beach Primary School Year 7 BBQ in 1962