Here’s cheers for 100 years! Trinity Preschool Orange to host centenary celebrations

Trinity Preschool in the New South Wales regional community of Orange will celebrate its 100th birthday with a special celebration tomorrow, and a gala ball later in the year. 

 

The preschool was established in 1924 by educationalist and clergyman the Reverend Cannon Taylor, who was supported by his clergy to establish the Trinity Church of England Girls Grammar School in the rented hall of the Orange School of Arts in Byng Street.

 

In 1927 the school moved to a new home, in the old Anglican Church, an historic bluestone hall in Anson Street, a location it called home until the 1950s when the school community raised money to buy new premises at 90 Kite Street.

 

As enrolments grew during the 1970s the Kite Street building became unsuitable, and the board looked to build a new school, which is the current home of Trinity Preschool, in Kooronga Place. 

 

The land where the preschool now sits was gifted to the church from a group of families, and the last of the primary school aged classes ceased in the mid 1970s, current preschool director Sarah Evans explained, and the preschool has focused on early learning ever since. 

 

To celebrate the centenary milestone the preschool is inviting current and former students, families, teachers and staff to a “Back to Trinity Day” from 11am to 2pm on Saturday, August 24.

 

“We’re going to showcase a lot of the history that we’ve found — through photos, stories, displays —  for people to walk through and also an opportunity for people to share their stories,” Ms Evans shared with local news source Orange City Life.

 

“We’re going to set up a little ‘sound hub’ space, where people might want to share stories of when they are at Trinity.”

 

One of Trinity’s most distinguished alumni, Wendy McCarthy AO, will be a special guest on the day. 

 

Ms McCarthy moved into public life in 1968 and since then has worked for change across the public, private and community sectors, in education, family planning, human rights, public health, overseas aid and development, conservation, heritage, media and the Arts. 

 

“We’re honoured to have Wendy McCarthy as our special guest at the Back to Trinity Day,” Ms Evans said.

 

“I think a lot of families, current families and also recent families that have finished with us, will come back for a visit as well as past staff and board members,” she continued. 

 

“It will be a great opportunity for everyone to get together and to showcase where we are and for people to come back and share those memories and what’s changed since they may have been here.”

 

In October the birthday celebration will continue with a gala ball and fundraiser, to be held 19 October at the Orange Function Centre.

 

Ms Evans hopes the ball will not only celebrate the journey of the service thus far, but also secure its future through fundraising. 

 

Currently, Trinity Preschool has 160 children enrolled in either a three-day or two-day program. With an extensive waiting list, Ms Evans hopes there will be the potential to add another room to offer more educational opportunities for the children and families of Orange. 

 

The Back to Trinity Day 100th birthday celebrations will take place at Trinity Preschool in Kooronga Avenue, Orange, 11am–2pm on Saturday, August 24.

 

Tickets for the birthday ball on October 19 will go on sale shortly. For more information, or to submit your own Trinity memories, visit trinitypreschool.org.au

 

The original coverage of this story can be found here.