Today, outside the Petrie State School on Dayboro Road there is a “North Pine Heritage” trail sign which has this photo of school children maypole dancing around 1907.
Courtesy Molly Holdsworth, Moreton Bay Regional Council Libraries, Strathpine.
(Photograph of North Pine Heritage Trail Marker from the collection of Kathleen Cameron, 2014)
It isn’t clear if this was a regular feature of events coordinated by the school, however it is mentioned a number of times throughout the decades as a celebration and visual crowd pleaser.
In 1931, ‘The Brisbane Courier’ reported of a church fete organised by the North Pine Presbyterian Women’s Guild held in the School of Arts hall at Petrie. School children performed the Maypole Dance and were as such reviewed, “an effective display of maypole dancing was carried out by pupils of the North Pine State School, and Mrs Longman crowned little Peggy Buckby as queen of the May.” (Full article below).
17 December 1931 (Thursday)
COUNTRY NEWS
PETRIE
Church Fete – The annual fete, organised by the North Pine Presbyterian Women’s Guild to augment church funds, was held in the School of Arts, Petrie, on December 12. Mrs Irene Longman, M.L.A., performed the opening ceremony. An effective display of maypole dancing was carried out by pupils of the North Pine State School, and Mrs Longman crowned little Peggy Buckby as queen of the May. Misses Jill Buckby (page), Ena Mitchell, (flower girl), Lyla Adams, Mona Ebert, Kathleen Yourell, and Jean Campbell (garland bearers) attended as retinue. During the afternoon musical items were rendered by Mrs A E Buckby, R Brodribb, and Miss Armour. Stalls were convened as follows: – Needlework: Misses M Wyllie (convener) and E L Hawkins. Refreshments: Mesdames O Houghton (convener), W Taylor, Geo. White, and Miss K Young. Soft drinks: Misses Rene Chappell (convener) and Reno Herman. Fruit and vegetables: Mesdames A Hyde and J Young, Sen (Joint conveners). Houp-la: Misses Betty Moodie (convener), Mavis Fredericks, and Master Allister, Moodie. Ice cream: Misses Edith Bray (convener), Thelma Module and Master Boy Moodie, Christmas tree: Mrs Victor Bray and Mr W Moodie. Sweet: Misses M Bray (convener) and D Chappell.
Source: 1931 ‘COUNTRY NEWS.’, The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 – 1933), 17 December, p. 15, viewed 14 December, 2013, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article21757580
1991: FETE
