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Opening Ceremony of the Tivoli State School Centenary Celebration, Tivoli, Ipswich, October 1977
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TitleOpening Ceremony of the Tivoli State School Centenary Celebration, Tivoli, Ipswich, October 1977Date Created1st October 1977AcknowledgementThe Queensland Times
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DescriptionOn Saturday, 1st of October 1977, a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the opening of Tivoli State School was held at the school.
The Tivoli area's first school was a room in the church hall, opened in July 1875. The people of Tivoli requested a new school to be built with a full-time teacher and a teacher's residence. This request was granted and the Tivoli State School was opened in January 1877, having been constructed on the site opposite the original school location in the chapel hall.
Typed invitations were sent out by the Centenary Celebration Committee to 'the most Senior 20 Past Pupils of the Tivoli State School', including William Finlay and his wife, though everyone was welcome to attend. The Centenary Celebration Committee met on the second Tuesday of the month.
The Centenary Celebration began at 10:30 with a procession towards the school which arrived at around 11 o'clock, when the opening ceremony was held. A lunch was served for the invited guests. A whole suckling pig was roasted on a spit.
The procession, escorted by police in cars, motorcycles, and on horseback, included vintage cars and motorcycles, as well as pedestrians, bicycle and tricycle riders, horse-riders, horse-drawn carts, and floats, including Bronto the Brontosaurus, a Flintstones-themed float with costumed attendants and someone riding on top of the dinosaur's back presented by the Ipswich Beardies. Pedestrians included costumed clowns and a marching band thought to be the Ipswich Model Band. Ladies in period costumes rode in a cart drawn by a horse, also in costume. A team of six bullocks pulled a heavy wagon. The Ipswich Beardies played instruments on a rotating stand while riding on a float. A hockey team marched in uniform, followed by the Tivoli softball team. The Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts also made part of the procession.
The opening ceremony was commenced by Ron Skinner, the chairman of the Centenary Celebration Committee and former Principal of the Tivoli State School from 1964-1973. The Queensland State Minister for Education Valmond J. Bird, and the Director of Primary Education Philip Cole, had been expected to attend and speak, but both were absent. Mayor George Arthur Hastings was not in attendance due to illness and was represented by Deputy Mayor Les Brown. Marjorie Bryant, who wore a period costume, and Earl Johnson attended representing the Ipswich Historical Society, and were credited with the research which was included in a booklet about the Centenary of Tivoli State School which was given out to attendees.
A choir performed in between the opening ceremony and the tree-planting ceremony. A historical display included the original pupil admission register which marked William Finlay as the 866th entry. A tent-pegging event want held.
A building at the school was opened by Albert Hales, Member for Ipswich West.
Mr William Finlay's experience of receiving an invitation and attending the celebration was recorded in a short film by his son, Don Finlay, an amateur cinematographer. William Finlay and his wife are pictured in image 1 and image 2.References (offline)Finlay. (1960). Don Finlay motion picture collection.References (online)Tivoli School Centenary - Don Finlay - [accessed 8 September 2023]
The Tivoli area's first school was a room in the church hall, opened in July 1875. The people of Tivoli requested a new school to be built with a full-time teacher and a teacher's residence. This request was granted and the Tivoli State School was opened in January 1877, having been constructed on the site opposite the original school location in the chapel hall.
Typed invitations were sent out by the Centenary Celebration Committee to 'the most Senior 20 Past Pupils of the Tivoli State School', including William Finlay and his wife, though everyone was welcome to attend. The Centenary Celebration Committee met on the second Tuesday of the month.
The Centenary Celebration began at 10:30 with a procession towards the school which arrived at around 11 o'clock, when the opening ceremony was held. A lunch was served for the invited guests. A whole suckling pig was roasted on a spit.
The procession, escorted by police in cars, motorcycles, and on horseback, included vintage cars and motorcycles, as well as pedestrians, bicycle and tricycle riders, horse-riders, horse-drawn carts, and floats, including Bronto the Brontosaurus, a Flintstones-themed float with costumed attendants and someone riding on top of the dinosaur's back presented by the Ipswich Beardies. Pedestrians included costumed clowns and a marching band thought to be the Ipswich Model Band. Ladies in period costumes rode in a cart drawn by a horse, also in costume. A team of six bullocks pulled a heavy wagon. The Ipswich Beardies played instruments on a rotating stand while riding on a float. A hockey team marched in uniform, followed by the Tivoli softball team. The Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts also made part of the procession.
The opening ceremony was commenced by Ron Skinner, the chairman of the Centenary Celebration Committee and former Principal of the Tivoli State School from 1964-1973. The Queensland State Minister for Education Valmond J. Bird, and the Director of Primary Education Philip Cole, had been expected to attend and speak, but both were absent. Mayor George Arthur Hastings was not in attendance due to illness and was represented by Deputy Mayor Les Brown. Marjorie Bryant, who wore a period costume, and Earl Johnson attended representing the Ipswich Historical Society, and were credited with the research which was included in a booklet about the Centenary of Tivoli State School which was given out to attendees.
A choir performed in between the opening ceremony and the tree-planting ceremony. A historical display included the original pupil admission register which marked William Finlay as the 866th entry. A tent-pegging event want held.
A building at the school was opened by Albert Hales, Member for Ipswich West.
Mr William Finlay's experience of receiving an invitation and attending the celebration was recorded in a short film by his son, Don Finlay, an amateur cinematographer. William Finlay and his wife are pictured in image 1 and image 2.References (offline)Finlay. (1960). Don Finlay motion picture collection.References (online)Tivoli School Centenary - Don Finlay - [accessed 8 September 2023]
Connections
Government & Non-Government OrganisationsIpswich Historical SocietyPeople & FamiliesRon SkinnerWilliam FinlayMrs FinlaySchoolsTivoli State SchoolCurated CollectionsWho Do You Think I Am?Defining Tulmur | IpswichExpanding Horizons: EducationTaxonomy20th Century | 1970s | 1977
Subjects
Queensland Times Collection
Queensland Times CollectionThe Queensland Times CollectionOctober 1977 - Queensland Times
Asset Details
Reference IDQT-1977-10-01-0048QT-1977-10-01-0049QT-1977-10-01-0064Asset TypeImage - JpegColour or Black & White ImageBlack & WhitePhysical DescriptionNegativeCopyright NoticeTo use this image, please contact the Picture Ipswich Digital ArchivistCopyrightPicture Ipswich Copyright Information
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SchoolsCurated CollectionsDefining Tulmur | IpswichQueensland Times Collection
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Opening Ceremony of the Tivoli State School Centenary Celebration, Tivoli, Ipswich, October 1977. Picture Ipswich, accessed 21/03/2025, https://www.pictureipswich.com.au/nodes/view/28243