150 years ago schooling came to the Ida Valley and this labour weekend there will be plenty of yarns shared as past principals, pupils and families get together to mark the jubilee.

Organiser and Poolburn School teacher Deb Stevens said the organising committee already had approximately 70 registrations in, and they were hoping to double that.

Lots of activities are planned including a school tour with memorabilia, a photo session of each of the decades, tree planting ceremony, a chance to relive the old school bus route, speeches and an ”old fashioned knees up “ dinner and dance at the Poolburn Hall.

Deb has taught at Poolburn School for the past 10 years, and all of her own children have gone through the school. 

Deb Stevens. PHOTO: Poolburn School 

“In typical Ida Valley fashion things will come in late…. But it’s a great place. We’ve got lots of children who are generational and from families in the valley.”

Deb said a book ‘School reunion 100 years Poolburn Moa Creek 1874-1974’ was collated for the 100th jubilee, it has insights into history and the organisers had enjoyed looking back on how things were. 

Fellow organising committee member Carol Goodlass said the fabulous original parents used their own funds to get a school established.  

“In 1873 a group of the local men began negotiating with the Otago Education Board to establish the first school in the valley. It opened 1874 at Ida Valley Station.”

An excerpt from the 100th anniversary book details challenges with heating and water supply. PHOTO: Supplied 

Pupils used to walk, or come by horse to school and the Moa Creek-Poolburn teacher split his week and walked the miles from one to the other.

For more information about the weekend contact [email protected]. Registrations are due by May 31.

See the anniversary listing here

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