Bicentennial & Expo 88

AUSTRALIA’S BINCENTENARY

The Australian Bicentennial was long discussed, and as early as 1985 Petrie school children were already seemingly preparing for the event, immersing in the local history of the pioneering colonial era:

5 June 1985

SUBURBAN EXPRESS – ON THE HISTORY TRAIL

Children of schools in the Pine Rivers area are enthusiastically learning much of the history of their local areas. They’re being well tutored for the Bicentenary in ’88. These two photographs show some of the history oriented projects going on.

Source: Moreton Bay Regional Council Local History Library, Strathpine

1988 was a contentious date in Australian history. The original people of this country were not treated well by the newcomers in 1788, who assumed ownership and systematically set about clearing the land of ‘blacks’ using violence and segregation. White people were delegated land by the government and it was their job to keep it ‘European’ and productive.

By the 1970s and the 1980s, Indigenous Australians were finding their voice and protests rightly began to appear regarding Aboriginal Land Rights and Australia’s poor human rights record.

A series of events were planned all over the nation for the Bicentennial, including Expo ’88 in Brisbane. One of the most grandiose of these was a re-enactment of the first fleet docking in Sydney harbour, which the government of the then Prime Minister Sir Bob Hawke, had refused to fund as it could be perceived as offensive to Australia’s Indigenous people. However, the ships arrived anyway.

In 1988, Sydney hosted one of the biggest protests that Australia has ever seen. Indigenous people, young and old, from all over the land, travelled to the city for the largest challenge to Australia’s accepted ‘European’ history.

There were protests in other cities also, and as the ‘tall ships’ docked in Brisbane, a march led by the Aboriginal flag to the river in Hamilton brought a realisation to those people there ‘celebrating’ our European colonialism, that there was more to our history than we had been allowed to know.

But in the suburbs and schools, the celebration focussed upon the only history that was familiar and comfortable to them. The history of European colonial settlers carving out a life in harsh and yet fertile conditions, giving birth to towns and cities of the like that had never been seen in this part of the world.

Over time, the Europeans believed they were entitled to the land that they had cleared, farmed, built upon and assumed.

1988 was the ‘Celebration of a Nation’, at least the European part of it, whether right or wrong – it was the beginning of an education on parts of history that had been ‘downplayed’ and an important discussion began.

However political and contentious though, many school children were oblivious to the history and politics. To them, Bicentennial was a chance to dress up, have fun and get out of ‘normal’ school.

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Bicentenary

http://museumvictoria.com.au/collections/themes/2835/indigenous-protest-1988-australian-bicentenary

 

BICENTENNIAL AT PETRIE STATE SCHOOL

All children attending primary school nationwide received a specially minted ‘Bicentennial Medallion’ to keep as a memento of the times.  This event was noted in 1999:

“1988 Bicentennial medallions issued to Students”.

– Peter J Boge, 1999: Principal, 1 Jan 1983 – 31 Dec 1990.

Source: Commemorating 125 Years of Service: Petrie State School 1874-1999, pp46-49.

Likewise, the Pre-Schoolers were issued with their own special medallions that were personally inscribed alongside a special bicentennial message:

Petrie celebrated 1988 in a big way and produced a book (some excerpts are pictured below), held in the Strathpine Local History Library, to record the community’s involvement in what was to be considered a ‘historic’ event.

An excerpt from the memories of the Principal of the time sums up how reflective the ‘Day In The Park’ was for the community:

“1988 created an atmosphere of national pride and identity. The school took a journey back to the past with a day of old fashioned fun and games at North Pine Country Park, demonstrating to children that you don’t need ‘High Tech’ facilities to have fun. Dressing up in old time costume included the obligatory convict uniform – especially for teaching staff. The children built their own billy-carts and stilts, cooked damper, pitched hay, and survived the greasy rail. They skipped, threw horse shoes, gum boots and raw eggs, and at the end of the day returned to school feeling ‘bushed’. A wonderful day was had by all.”

– Peter J Boge, 1999: Principal, 1 Jan 1983 – 31 Dec 1990.

Source: Commemorating 125 Years of Service: Petrie State School 1874-1999, p63.

“26 August 1988 ‘A Page of History’ for whole school was held at North Pine Country Park.’”

– Peter J Boge, 1999 – Principal, 1 Jan 1983 – 31 Dec 1990.

Source: Commemorating 125 Years of Service: Petrie State School 1874-1999, pp46-49.

‘A PAGE OF HISTORY’ – NORTH PINE COUNTRY PARK

Unreferenced Article Published in the book “Petrie State Primary School: A Record of this School’s Involvement in the Australian Bicentenary, 1988”

[including Bicentenary 88 and World Expo 88]

Petrie State Primary School will travel back into the past to the days of copybooks and slates this Friday.

Donning colonial costumes, teachers, students and many parents will celebrate the end of Book Week theme A Page of History.

The North Pine Country Park will appropriately be the scene for this trip down Australia’s memory lane.

Activities from the last 200 years will be tackled by the students.

Pillow fighting, gum boot throwing, chook races, toad races, damper making, billy cart riding and bush-dancing are just a few games on the day’s agenda.

Much preparation has gone into the day with the students and teachers learning bush dances, studying Australian words and inventions and designing costumes.

Unreferenced Article Published in the book “Petrie State Primary School: A Record of this School’s Involvement in the Australian Bicentenary, 1988”

[including Bicentenary 88 and World Expo 88]

NO PAIN FROM THIS CANE

PHOTO CAPTION: It looked like six-of-the-best for John Tusler at the North Pine Country Park last week as school master Keith Enchelmaler took a close look at his book work. The youngster, however, was spared the pain as it was only a historical re-enactment day by the students of the Petrie State School.

The Principal reported the day’s activities in the school newsletter:

1988 – 1 SEPTEMBER – PETRIE LOG 88/15

A PAGE OF HISTORY / BICENTENNIAL: “Sincere thanks are extended to EVERYONE who made our ‘Day at the Park’ last Friday such a successful and memorable event. There have been so many kind words and expressions of appreciation made by those present, that it must rank as our most successful Bicentennial event this year. Certainly it incorporated the August ‘Parents in Schools’ theme through the willing, active participation of parents. Thanks!

All we ever intended was for children to gain an appreciation of life at school in days long past, and this occurred.

It’s so easy to overlook thanking people, but those outside of the school who deserve a special mention are: North Pine Country Part Association and associated groups making the facilities available; Mr Merv Ewart for assistance in planning the day; Strathpine Toyota and the Readymix Group for jointly sponsoring the Wayfarers Band for the Bush Dancing at a total cost of $400.”

A PAGE OF HISTORY / BICENTENNIAL: COMPETITIONS – Vegemite Competition; Thong Throwing; Gum Boot Throwing; Bottle Top Tossing; Jump Tree.

– Peter J Boge, 1999 – Principal, 1 Jan 1983 – 31 Dec 1990.

The year one’s had their memories of the day published in this ‘Petrie Log’ also:

1988 – 1 SEPTEMBER – PETRIE LOG 88/15

A PAGE OF HISTORY / A DAY IN THE PARK

FROM THE YEAR ONES

“On Friday 26 August we went to the park and I went on the horse with the cart. I went to the pillow fight and then I went to my lunch with Mum. After lunch I watched Matt in the billy cart.” – Sally-Anne Baigrie, Year One Student 1988

“I went on the go-carts and I went in the Fire Station. I played the pillow fights and I won. I went on the stilts and I played in the Egg Race.”– Dean Thiesfield, Year One Student 1988

“I played a pillow fight with Ben. I went in the Billy Cart Race with Renee. I got fourteen stickers in my passport.”– Nicolette Plastow, Year One Student 1988

Petrie State School desperately required an improvement in the look of the school from the main frontage on Dayboro Road. The Principal of the time, Mr Peter Boge, cleverly coupled the feeling of national pride that stirred in 1988 with a new found school pride.

Weaving in a ‘Bicentennial Arbor Day’ to plant trees around the grounds and provide much needed shade for future pupils, he also hand built and erected the sign that stands on the main road.

The sign still stands today.

Due to his personal connections, Mr Boge formed a partnership with Lions Club (Pine Rivers) to commemorate a newly created ‘Bicentennial Garden’ with a commemorative plaque remembering the school’s roots. This plaque was formally opened by the State Member of Parliament at the special school Fete that year.

16 April 1988 “Bicentennial Garden on Dayboro Road frontage opened at Bicentennial Fete 16 April by Deane Wells, Member for Murrumba.”

– Peter J Boge, 1999 – Principal, 1 Jan 1983 – 31 Dec 1990.

Source: Commemorating 125 Years of Service: Petrie State School 1874-1999, pp46-49.

This moment was also written about in the Lion’s Club newsletter:

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BICENTENNIAL PLAQUE UNVEILED

The Petrie State Primary School celebrated its links with explorer Tom Petrie at its Bicentennial Fete on 16 April.

Dean Wells (MLA, Murrumba) unveiled a special Bicentennial Plaque featuring Tom Petrie shaking hands with the head of the Toorbul [sic] Aboriginal Tribe.

Petrie Lions Secretary 9and principal of the school) Peter Boge said that Tom Petrie donated the land for the first school built in 1874. The present library is on the site.

The plaque has been positioned in front of a large rock in the school’s new Bicentennial Gardens on the Dayboro Road entrance to the school. This had been a most unattractive part of the school for many years, but combined efforts from Petrie Lions and the local community in 1988 had transformed the area.

Petrie Lions positioned a large boulder, while local families and past pupils provided bougainvillea plants, the plaque, garden edging and trees.

The logo on the plaque was developed for the Petrie Lions Club by a local art teacher, and was developed for the Petrie Lions Club by a local art teacher, and was used with permission.

Petrie Lions assisted at the fete by running the barbecue.

[/reveal]

Unfortunately the plaque is long gone (possibly stolen by weekend pranksters).  The photographs below show the Bicentennial Gardens in 2014.

EXPO ‘88

World Expo 88, also known as Expo ’88, was a World’s Fair held in Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia, during a six-month period between Saturday, 30 April 1988 and Sunday, 30 October 1988. The theme of the Expo was “Leisure in the Age of Technology”, and the mascot for the Expo was an Australian platypus named Expo Oz.

– From Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Expo_88

More information and heaps of videos about Expo here: http://www.expomuseum.com/1988/

PETRIE CHILDREN GO TO EXPO!

Evidently, there was much fundraising done to aid in the cost associated with taking large groups of children along to a big event, as shown in the ‘Petrie Log’ (1 September 1988):

1988 – 1 SEPTEMBER – PETRIE LOG 88/15

– EXPO: Years 5S and 5/6TP attended Expo ’88 on Wednesday the 5^th October. Year 7YZ visited on Tuesday 4^th October.

– EXPO / FUNDRAISING: A Chocolate Drive was held by Years 5F, 5S and 5/6TP to raise funds for their visit to Expo.

In this same newsletter we here of the memories of a year 4 student after attending Expo with her class:

1988 – 1 SEPTEMBER – PETRIE LOG 88/15

YEAR FOUR’S DAY AT EXPO by Megan Dooley

On Tuesday 9 August my class went to Expo. I arrived at school at 8.20. The parents who were coming had a short meeting. Miss Lester then marked the rolls and we got our Expo Books. We were then put into groups.

The class walked down to the train station. The parents had to buy tickets and we …

[reveal heading=”%image% Click here to read Megan’s whole account of Expo 88″]

caught the second train. When we got on board the train, Cheryl and I sat on one of those two seats near the door. In the train we saw nothing because we weren’t looking out the window.

We arrived at South Brisbane Station. We all lined up to get in the ages. When we got in the gates each group went their own way. I was in Mrs Stephen’s group. Our group had to go to these pavilions:- Sri Lanka, USSR which is Russia, Suncorp and Western Australia. In the Western Australian Pavilion there are the scales that tell you how much your [sic] worth in gold is [sic]. Rochelle was worth $5072 and Cheryl was worth $6081 and I was worth $7011. Also in the Western Australian Pavilion there was a model of a building which had 48 floors in it. We watched gold nuggets being made.

In the Suncorp Pavilion we played a game where you walk into a dark room and it has a big screen, and it has the objects coming towards you. You have this card and you have a round ball in front of you and you slip you card through a hole to choose your choice. The card will record your choice and you move on to the surface of the Moon. Then you do the same.

In the Sri Lanka Pavilion there are some precious stones. Some were Cat’s Eye Opal and others but I can’t remember. In the USSR Pavilion there were boats that go around on machines. Some are aeroplanes. It also has a sort of river. The whole pavilion is round.

When we were walking, we stopped and watched the Lunchtime Parade. Some of the floats were the washing up float, the echidna and butterfly on stilts. In the washing up float there was a can of dirty baked beans.

Just before the Lunchtime Parade we had to go to the Japanese Pavilion because some people had to read Haiku Poetry. Then we all went to the USA Pavilion. We all went different ways. Then we went back and watched them read the Haiku Poetry. Then all groups went their own way again. We went on the monorail for one and a half rides. Our group saw people dancing with ribbons. At a quarter to five we were to catch the train. We got in the back carriage. Miss Lester said not too many people were to get in the back carriage, but it was shoulder to shoulder. We arrived at the Petrie Station and 5:45. Our parents took us home.

[/reveal]

However, it was made clear in the musings of Peter Boge during his memories in 1999, that not everyone was to experience the trip:

“Some classes attended World Expo 1988.”

Peter J Boge, 1999 – Principal, 1 Jan 1983 – 31 Dec 1990.

Source: Commemorating 125 Years of Service: Petrie State School 1874-1999, pp46-49.

THE USA DRILL TEAM 1/MARCHING AUXILIARY

Prior to their famous Expo ’88 Opening Ceremony performance, the girls of the USA Drill Team 1/Marching Auxiliary were billeted with local Petrie State School families.

“49 girls in the American Marching Team were billeted with families.”

Peter J Boge, 1999 – Principal, 1 Jan 1983 – 31 Dec 1990.

Source: Commemorating 125 Years of Service: Petrie State School 1874-1999, pp46-49.

This helped keep costs down for the performers, and not doubt allowed them to experience Queensland culture first hand.

The contribution of the school community was not unrecognised, as the school received a certificate and letter of thanks from the Coordinator of the North American Performing Groups Music Department (Entertainment Division).

Source: Petrie State Primary School – A Page of History (A Record of This School’s Involvement in the Australian Bicentennary, 1988); Moreton Bay Regional Council Local History Library, Strathpine

 

A YEAR TO BE REMEMBERED

This occasion was recorded as a great school celebration in the Prospectus of 1989:

“During 1988 the school celebrated Australia’s Bicentenary, Celebrations around the year-long theme ‘A Page of History’ involved the unveiling of the Tom Petrie plaque at the Bicentennial Gardens at the Dayboro Road entrance to the school. All classes planted trees on Arbor Day, and a start was made on an Environmental Studies area. Visits were made to the North Pine Country Park and to Expo 88.”

– Peter J Boge, 1999 – Principal, 1 Jan 1983 – 31 Dec 1990.

Source: 1989 Petrie State School Prospectus, From the Collection of Jean Charters.