Giru State School To Celebrate Centenary In Style

Giru State School, a cornerstone of the small but vibrant community of Giru, is marking a century of educational excellence with a grand celebration.
The milestone event, featuring a gala dinner and a lively fete, is set to honour the school’s rich history and its enduring legacy in the region.
Giru derives its name from a railway station named on 31 March 1916, based on "goru," a sugarcane variety from New Guinea grown locally.
The Invicta Sugar Mill, originally located on the Richmond River in New South Wales, moved to Bucca in 1906 and then to the Haughton River in 1919, around which the township of Giru developed.
The mill began operations there in 1921 and Giru State School opened three years later on in October 1, 1924.
Jenni Lund, the current principal of Giru State School, encapsulated the spirit of the occasion by reflecting on the school’s journey.
“We’ve grown and we’ve gone through those fluctuations of a small town that’s lost residents and built the residents back up,” Ms Lund said.
“There’s the country atmosphere of the school and the community, but we’re not that far away from Townsville or Ayr; it’s a great location.”
The school has seen significant growth in recent years, transitioning from a two-teacher to a three-teacher school, and currently boasts an enrollment of 74 students across three classes.
Corin Widderick, a teacher, parent, and former student, represents three generations of family ties to the school and emphasised the unique opportunities available at Giru State School.
“We’re proud of what we have to offer; it’s a great little school that offers so many different things,” she said.
“We have tennis courts, a school swimming pool, and we’re able to send our students to play in big sporting tournaments.
“Even though it is such a small, rural school, we still have those opportunities which is really special."
The gala dinner to be help on Friday, July 5 promises to be a highlight, featuring live entertainment, tours of the school, and speeches that reflect on its storied past.
One particularly poignant moment will be the unveiling of a time capsule buried 25 years ago, with plans to bury a new one to be opened by future generations.
The fete, a vibrant community affair, will kick off the next morning with a high tea.
Attendees can look forward to a range of activities including rides, stalls, and displays, as well as bus tours of the Invicta Mill conducted by Wilmar.
The event will also feature a “Giruvian” challenge, where participants can engage in local activities such as putting crab pots together, cutting cane, casting fishing rods, and moving hay bales.
Students have integrated the festivities into their Media and Arts curriculum, creating videos, documentaries, posters, and magazine covers about the school's history, which will be shared on social media and displayed during the event.
A colouring in competition has even been designed by year 2 and 3 students which has been distributed throughout the school and other schools in the area, with entries to be displayed on the weekend.
The fete will also feature a raffle and auction aimed at raising funds to upgrade the school's soundproofing.
The involvement of parents, former students, and community members in organising the event is a testament to the strong community spirit that has kept the school thriving for a hundred years.
“We’ve had so many sponsors help out with putting our event on, so we’re very appreciative of that,” Ms Widderick said.
“It’s really good to see our community getting involved and helping out.”
With people traveling from as far as Perth and Melbourne to join the celebrations, Giru State School’s centenary is set to be a memorable event, celebrating the past while looking forward to a bright future.
Visit the Giru State School Facebook page for more information.

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WHAT: Giru State School 100 Years Gala Dinner
WHEN: Friday, July 5 from 5:00pm
WHERE: Giru State School
TICKETS: Giru State School Facebook page

WHAT: Giru State School 100 Years Fete
WHEN: Saturday, July 6 from 3:00pm
WHERE: Giru State School
ADMISSION: $5 for adults, $2 for children aged 5-12, 4 and under free

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Giru State School’s 2024 cohort
Giru State School is celebrating 100 years in 2024
Photos supplied

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