[MORE COMING SOON]
The history of the ‘provided’ school lunch at Petrie extends back to 1953. At this time the Ladies’ Committee were granted permission to use the old school house kitchen to prepare lunches for children on Mondays. The old school house was the living quarters of the head teacher, Mr Mal Langusch, and his wife and at this time was situated about where A Block is today.
The lunches were served to the children from a wooden trestle near the school.
“One government scheme was for every school child to receive a glass of milk a day. The mild was delivered to school in the morning before school and we would be given a small bottle to drink at little lunch. There was no refrigeration for the mild and it was usually quite warm by the time it came to drink it. But woe betide any child found not drinking their bottle. Then we discovered that for the grand price of threepence, we could take a small bottle to the shop and purchase enough malted milk flavouring to last the week. Strawberry or chocolate made the warm milk more palatable.”
…
“There was no tuckshop in those days but we still had tuckshop once a week. The ladies would come to school and put trestle tables in the play shed. I never was allowed to have tuckshop so I don’t know what they managed to sell with no micro-waves or refrigerators.”
– Joyce Wagner (Nee Cairns) – Past Student, Petrie State School, 1955 – 1963
Source: Commemorating 125 Years of Service: Petrie State School 1874-1999, pp28-30.
In 1964 the Tuckshop moved to the small room beneath C Block (where the Uniform Shop now operates). The School Committee, with aid of Australian Paper Mill carpenters, built the Tuckshop after the expansion of the school.
In order for the school to obtain a subsidy towards the building costs, it was necessary for the Tuckshop to be referred to as an ‘Oslo Lunch Room’. This was a ‘standard’ that would be set for the nutritional value of the served lunches.
In the post World War II era, children were considered malnourished which had implications on their learning and ability to physically perform.
The “Oslo Lunch” was devised by the Norwegian Professor Schiotz and had been introduced successfully in post-war Europe, with children reportedly gaining weight and improving their health after only six months.
Trials began in Australia in a few Victorian schools in 1941 and with its measured success, the scheme was introduced to many other Australian schools over the following decades.
This balanced mean consisted of a wholemeal salad sandwich or roll including cheese, a glass of milk and an apple or other seasonal fruit.
Like most of the other kids I used to take books and things to and from school in a bag on my back. This bag then had to be hung up on a peg on the verandah wall outside the classroom. My lunch would, of course, be in this bag so no matter how hot the day might have been nor what my lunch consisted of it still stayed in my bag until it was time to eat it. (And as far as I know nobody ever got food poisoning!) It would always be sandwiches of some description with perhaps a bit of cake.
– Ken Mitchell, former student North Pine State School (now Petrie State School) 1942-1945, received via email 2014.
This was a norm at Petrie for some time, however by the late 1960s, with the decreased requirement for organisation of the Tuckshop the Ladies’ committee “appeared to fade as an individual identity” and began working directly through the Parents’ and Citizens Association (P & C) for a number of years.
To complete this merger and ensure the Tuckshop was still running, the P & C appointed Mrs Edwards as the first Tuckshop Convenor during 1971-72. She was followed by Mrs Bev Carseldine in 1973, however by now the Tuckshop “had declined to a state where we felt it necessary to close it down”.
It was this event that triggered a need to form a group of ladies who were keen to contribute time and skills to such school operations. Hence the Ladies’ Auxiliary was formed in 1973 with the original committee being Mrs Horne (President), Mrs Bogan (Secretary) and Mrs James (Treasurer).
The Ladies’ Auxiliary’s first objective was to reopen the Tuckshop!
In a joint operation, the Ladies’ Auxiliary and the P & C obtained a new Works Department subsidy to do an extensive renovation on the Tuckshop which re-opened on the 10th July 1974.
In the mid-1980s, during the time of Principal Peter Boge, much new works were undertaken throughout the school and the old brick toilet was replaced by the ‘new’ amenities block, allowing room to build our current tuckshop and the new Undercover Area.
From the Collection of Petrie State School.
Read More About the Tuckshop in Fight to Save the School
The first P & C meeting in February 1983 resulted in the formation of various committees – Fundraising, Ways and Means, Priorities, to identify the improvements necessary and whether they were the responsibility of Education or Works Departments, or a possible P & C subsidy project Teachers agreed that the encouragement and gaining of full Parent/Teacher cooperation would be a major goal for 1983. Politicians were exposed for their inaction and broken promises. It took lots of meetings, letters, deputations, visits by VIPs and persistence, before the wheels finally turned in our favour. We finally convinced them that the Petrie community would not accept third-rate facilities. The late Russ Hinze said during a visit in 1983 that his horses were stable better than Petrie students. Another candidate suggested “retain the historical bits and bulldoze the rest’. Even the Ombudsman was enlisted to help the P & C.
Looking back, I know our persistence and belief in the justice of our claims meant that we never lost sight of our vision and resolve to ensure the redevelopment of the School. Gradually, the concerted efforts forced the government to allocate money for the redevelopment of the school.
– Peter J Boge, 1999 – Principal, 1 Jan 1983 – 31 Dec 1990.
Source: Commemorating 125 Years of Service: Petrie State School 1874-1999
More Information about the “Oslo Lunch”:
1963-02-20 Feb – THE OSLO LUNCH FOR CHILDREN
http://meandmybigmouth.com.au/oslo-lunch/
TUCKSHOP TIMELINE
1982
A school tuckshop is conducted every Monday and Wednesday. Wholesome food in the form of sandwiches, cakes, salad rolls, biscuits, fruit, fruit juices can be purchased on Monday and Hot Dogs on Wednesday.
Where possible all ladies with children attending school are rostered for duty in the tuckshop, but where circumstances do not permit a mother assisting, donations of butter, cheese or cooking are appreciated.
Rosters are drawn up at the commencement of the school year.
Source: 1982 Petrie State School Parent Guide, From the Collection of Jean Charters.
1983
A small Tuckshop under Room 5 operated 2 days a week.
A hamburger cost 50c, a pie with sauce 40c, a hot dog 35c.
1984
Tuckshop now open three days per week.
1985
Tenders called for Covered Games Area and Tuckshop at cost of $175000.
In the 1985 Prospectus, the Tuckshop Convenor is listed as Mrs J Brackin.
In the 1985 Prospectus, the Tuckshop Convenor (Mrs J Brackin) is listed under the Ladies Auxiliary.
1985
The Ladies’ Auxiliary operates the Tuckshop at this school, and we rely on the help given by interested mothers to make it successful. If all mothers would assist on one day per month this valuable service would be seen to be a really cooperative effort.
A bag ordering system operates, and each Family is provided with a copy of the current menu and price list.
Source: 1985 Petrie State School Prospectus, From the Collection of Jean Charters.
1986
Janelle Dunsdon became Tuckshop Convenor.
1987
Lyn Hardie joined Janelle Dunsdon as Convenor in new Tuckshop.
– Peter J Boge, 1999 – Principal, 1 Jan 1983 – 31 Dec 1990.
Source: Commemorating 125 Years of Service: Petrie State School 1874-1999, pp46-49.
1989
In the 1989 Prospectus, the Tuckshop Convenors are listed as Mrs Lyn Hardie and Mrs Gail Parkin.
TUCKSHOP
The Tuckshop Committee operates the Tuckshop at this school, and we rely on the help given by interested mothers to make it successful. If all mothers would assist on one day per month this valuable service would be seen to be a really cooperative effort.
A bag ordering system operates, and each family is provided with a copy of the current menu and price list.
In 1989 the Tuckshop will operate Monday to Friday in the new Tuckshop that was finished early in 1986.
Source: 1989 Petrie State School Prospectus, From the Collection of Jean Charters.
1989
16 NOVEMBER – PETRIE RUMBLINGS 89.19
We realize a day at Tuckshop can be the cause of many ailments such as headache, fatigue etc. but NEVER labour! CONGRATULATIONS to Mrs Jan Payne who, after a gruelling day’s work at Tuckshop gave birth to a beautiful baby boy, Glen.
1991
“Fruit Table set up to deposit unwanted fruit rather than throw it away.”
– David Stephenson, 1999 – Principal, 1 Jan 1991 – 2007
Source: Commemorating 125 Years of Service: Petrie State School 1874-1999, pp50-53.
1994
TUCKSHOP: Convenors – Mrs Jill Thorpe and (Vacant)
The Tuckshop Committee operates the Tuckshop at this school, and we rely on the help given by interested mothers to make it successful.
Source: 1994 Petrie State School Prospectus, From the Collection of Jean Charters.
1995
“Passing away of Luke Parkin. Luke attended Petrie School 27/1/81-1/12/88. Mrs Gail Parkin had a long association with the school as Tuckshop Convenor.”
David Stephenson, 1999 – Principal, 1 Jan 1991 – 2007
Source: Commemorating 125 Years of Service: Petrie State School 1874-1999, pp50-53.
1995
TUCKSHOP: Convenors – Mrs Jill Thorpe and Mrs Debbie Swain
TUCKSHOP
The Tuckshop Committee operates the Tuckshop at this school, and we rely on the help given by interested mothers to make it successful.
Source: 1995 Petrie State School Prospectus, From the Collection of Jean Charters.
1995
19 OCTOBER – PETRIE LOG 16/95
TUCKSHOP sells Lickstick Ice Blocks for 25 cents and Icy Poles for 50 cents.
1999
28 OCTOBER – PETRIE RUMBLINGS 16/99
Tuckshop: As you will notice, both Friday sessions are desperately in need of volunteers to help. If the Tuckshop Convenors do not get people to help on these days the Tuckshop will be closed which will mean great loss in income as well as inconvenience to parents. Please, if you can help, contact the tuckshop immediately. Special – Cans of Softdrink (not coke) $1.00 while stocks last.
2001
TUCKSHOP: Convenor – Maxine Barnes
The Tuckshop Committee operates the Tuckshop at this school. They rely on the help given by interested parents to make it successful. Please contact the tuckshop to offer your assistance.
The school Tuckshop operates daily. A menu is available from the Tuckshop and orders are made by pre-orders each morning. Orders are collected from the classroom daily.
Procedure
Children
– Lunches must be ordered in bags.
– Hot food must be ordered through the bag system for first break only.
– Children can only buy from the counter when the “OPEN” sign is displayed.
– Side doors are out-of-bounds.
– Tuckshop is not open in second break.
Staff and Tuckshop Monitors
– Baskets are to be at the Tuckshop by 9:00 am.
– Tuckshop Monitors should advise the convenor if there are no orders.
– Baskets are to be collected at 10:55 am then returned IMMEDIATELY when emptied.
– Teachers should ensure children have lunches prior to leaving the classroom.
– Baskets are to be collected at 12:00 pm for second recess lunch.
– Frozen yoghurts and ice blocks are to be collected at the office for second break.
Source: 2001 Petrie State School Prospectus, From the Collection of Jean Charters.
2007
FREE FRUIT AND VEGE FRIDAY
13 September 2007
Top grade for school tuckshop
THE ONLY school in Queensland to boast an “all-green” tuckshop menu credits good old-fashioned bribery with the success of the healthy foods.
With the support of principal Steven Taylor, Algester’s St Stephen’s tuckshop convener Annie Lancaster took on the challenge of adopting a low-fat, low-salt, high-fibre menu beyond the requirements of the State Government’s Smart Choices program.
And she happily admits to using bribery to entice children to eat the new foods on offer.
“At first we offered a prize to students who bought a green meal deal instead of the amber meal,” Mrs Lancaster said.
“It was so successful, it was bad because we were left with so many amber meals.”
Under Smart Choices, green foods, such as fresh fruit and vegetables, must be offered by tuckshops every day, while amber foods such as pies and hamburgers can be offered occasionally and red foods like chips and lollies only twice a term.
Mrs Lancaster said it had been challenging to find foods to fit the all-green menu.
“We can’t do Vegemite sandwiches because Vegemite isn’t a green food. It’s got too much sodium (salt),” she said.
Instead, meals such as tuna mornay and lean-mince meatballs with wholemeal pasta are sold, and according to Mr Taylor, after some initial opposition from parents, the menu is going down a treat.
An improvement in student behaviour had been a bonus.
“In the afternoons the kids are a lot calmer and that has to be because of the healthier food,” he said. St Stephen’s is hoping for statewide recognition for its efforts through the Queensland Association of School Tuckshops’ annual awards, to be announced on October 20.
Nominations close tomorrow and Trent Ballard from QAST said the awards sought to recognise schools doing innovative things in their tuckshops. There were “plenty of those around”.
“Watson Road State School at Acacia Ridge and Petrie State School are both growing their own produce to sell at their tuckshops,” Mr Ballard said.
Assistant convener at the Petrie tuckshop, Debbie Gaskell, said water restrictions had posed some difficulties for their garden but the students were helping in “any way they could”.
“Some of them put buckets underneath any leaking air-conditioners and collect water for the garden that way,” she said.
Petrie’s tuckshop had also introduced a “free fruit and vegie Friday” to introduce children to new foods, Ms Gaskell said.
“The children love it. We’ve had a great response. The only difficulty is meeting demand,” she said.
Source: Top grade for school tuckshop, The Courier-Mail, September 13, 2007; http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/top-grade-for-school-tuckshop/story-e6freoof-1111114403995; accessed 3 January 2014.
2012
TUCKSHOP NEWS
Thank you to the people who took the time to provide feedback via the Tuckshop survey that went home recently. Some of the suggestions included; smaller/cheaper options, home-made items, specials on specific days, online ordering and having students from each class pick up orders before lunch break.
In response to your suggestions, the P&C has been busy trying to implement some of your ideas and have made the following changes. From the start of term 3 the menu will change (copy attached). Some of the changes include smaller options, some home-made items, and we will be having specials on Fridays whenever possible.
I spoke to the school IT department about parents being able to use the school website to order lunches online, but have been informed that this is not possible. We are aware of third-party websites that offer this function, but it comes at a cost, and given that Tuckshop currently runs at a loss, this is not an option.
The current process of getting lunches to students is that the class box for years 4 to 7 are collected by students and taken to their eating area. Students from years 1 to 3 line up at the tuckshop and are given their individual lunches. In doing this we are assuming the older students are responsible enough to collect their own lunch from the box, and we are ensuring the younger students have their lunch handed to them personally. For the most part, this appears to work, but as with everything there are occasional hiccups. As far as students collecting lunches before the break, this would mean using curriculum time, and this is not an area in which we have any authority.
Preps are now able to order Tuckshop lunches (for the first break only), on a Wednesday. Orders are placed with Tuckshop or their teacher by 9am and lunches are taken to the prep eating area by the student council. The smaller items on the new menu should appeal to the preps and maybe even the bigger students who are looking for a bit of variety.
As mentioned earlier, the Tuckshop has been running at a loss and we are endeavouring to change this. The P&C is not trying to make a profit from the Tuckshop, simply provide a service to the school, and break even while doing so. We are hoping the changes mentioned above will help, but believe we have to go further and close Tuckshop on days when it does not cover the cost of having a person employed to run it. Therefore, effective third term, Tuckshop will be open Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday only.
We are always looking for volunteer helpers in Tuckshop. If you have any time to give to our school, we would greatly appreciate your help. It doesn’t have to be a long stint; even an hour here and there is helpful. It simply would not be viable to employ further staff in Tuckshop, and without volunteers, it is very hard to get lunches out on time. If you can help, just speak to Debbie or Rosana in Tuckshop, and they will let you know when the help is most needed.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many people, without whom, the Tuckshop would not run. Firstly, Debbie and Rosana, you do a great job, under what are sometimes trying circumstances. Secondly, to all the volunteers who help out in Tuckshop, thank you very much. Our school community appreciates your time and effort. Without you, we really would struggle.
Colleen Heller
P&C Treasurer
Source: ‘Petrie Log’ Newsletter, 10/12, 21 June 2012, Petrie State School, http://www.petriess.eq.edu.au, Accessed 16 September 2014
2012
TUCKSHOP
During the last week of school Tuckshop will only be open on Wednesday 12 December. We will not be open on Thursday as this is the day students have their class parties with food usually arranged by teachers and parents.
There will be items not available during the last weeks as stocks are used up before the holidays. Should we not have what your child has ordered we will endeavour to offer a suitable alternative.
Thank you to all our volunteers who have helped in the Tuckshop this year. Also thank you to the families who have donated items to help the Tuckshop.
We have arranged our annual Tuckshop Volunteers Lunch at Lawnton Tavern on 14 December at 12.00pm. Please let Rosana or myself know if you are able to attend so we can finalise numbers.
Thanks, Debbie & Rosana Ph: 32850303
Source: ‘Petrie Log’ Newsletter, 21/12, 10 December 2012, Petrie State School, http://www.petriess.eq.edu.au, Accessed 16 September 2014
2013
MUNCH MONITOR
Our on-line ordering system is up and running with many families signing up and finding ordering online very convenient – no more having to find money for lunch bags. If you haven’t heard about it or haven’t had a chance to look at it – here are the details you need:
How do I set up an online account?
Go to www.munchmonitor.com
Enter Username: ***** and
Password: *******
Click Sign Up
Follow the easy steps to create your account:
Create a Parent Profile
Add your Students to your account
Click on Account Top-up to transfer money into your account. You’ll be directed to ANZ’s secure eGate website. Further Top-ups can be made in cash at Tuckshop.
You’re ready to use your online account
Source: ‘Petrie Log’ Newsletter, 11/13, 24 July 2013, Petrie State School, http://www.petriess.eq.edu.au, Accessed 16 September 2014
2013
A MESSAGE FROM THE TUCKSHOP
Do you want to help out at the Tuckshop, but can’t because you have pre-school aged children?
One idea that might help to solve this problem is:-
Why not form a group with, say, 4 other parents from your class? You could then work out a roster so that each week, 1 or 2 of the group would baby sit while the other 2 helps out in the tuckshop. This would not only widen your circle of friends, it would allow your children to mix with others around the same age.
If this sounds like something that would work for you, take charge and approach some of the parents when dropping off in the morning, or while waiting for your child in the afternoon. Some may be too shy to start the conversation.
Or do you know an Aunty or Grandma that is at a loose end during the week? A blue card is required for anyone other than a parent but can easily be organised through the school office at no cost.
If you would like to help out in the tuckshop, please contact Debbie on 3285 0303, or call in to the tuckshop on a Wednesday, Thursday or Friday. Even if it is only for an hour at some time during the day, it would be very much appreciated. We have a fun time whilst preparing healthy, nutritious meals for the children. We even have time to stop for a cuppa and a laugh most days.
Source: ‘Petrie Log’ Newsletter, 11/13, 24 July 2013, Petrie State School, http://www.petriess.eq.edu.au, Accessed 16 September 2014
[MORE COMING SOON]
INCLUDING NEW MENU STANDARDS
DISCUSS THE INTRODUCTION PREP AND HOW THEY WERE NOT ORIGINALLY ABLE TO ORDER FROM THE TUCKSHOP
THE CHALLENGES OF SUPPLYING THE PREP MENU AND THE TRAVEL DISTANCE TO THE PREP ROOMS
ALSO DISCUSS THE RECENT VOLUNTEER AND FINANCIAL CHALLENGES THE TUCKSHOP HAS ENCOUNTERED AND THE REDUCING OF THE HOURS OF OPERATIONS FROM FULL-TIME TO A 3 DAY WEEK.