This article was orignally published on the DMSC website following the commemorations in December 1999.
On Friday, 3 December through to Sunday, 5 December, DMSC celebrated
75 years of education for the people of Dimboola. Nearly 1100 former students
and staff attended, out of a possible 5000. The picture below show just some
of the activities around the school.
There was a room allocated to each decade. In each room memorabilia
was displayed: uniforms, photos, reports and so on. It was a great success.
75th Anniversary Cake (decorated by Margaret Menzel, from the '50s)
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View inside the main tent
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Cutting the cake (Colin Baker, Sharelle Bamford, Malcolm Miller)
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School Band conducted by Jill Walsgott
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There were the necessary speeches:
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Introduction of official guests by John Taylor (Anniversary Committee
Chairman)
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Official welcome by John Saxton (School Council President)
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Sharelle Bamford and Jason Shanaughan (College Captains)
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Cr Darryl Argall (Hindmarsh Shire President)
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Malcolm Miller (Department of Education, Regional General Manager)
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Iain McNee (College Principal)
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Three people were inducted into the DMSC Hall of Fame. They were
Tim Shanahan, Vaughan Werner and Bill McKenzie.
Iain McNee, Bill McKenzie and Vaughan Werner
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The college's Rock Band entertained the guests in the evening
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Catering for over 700 guests was not an easy job. It was admirably organised
by Sue Ward with help from many people.
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Coleslaw!! Have you ever seen so much coleslaw? The esky was about
1.5 m wide, 1 m deep and 1 m high.
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Mixing up the Potato salad.
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The main tent.
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Memorial Rededication
Dimboola Memorial Secondary College has the unique distinction
of being the only secondary school that is a memorial to those who fought and
died for Australia in world conflicts. A history is given elsewhere on this
web site.
As part of the anniversary celebrations, the school was rededicated
as a memorial. A plaque was unveiled, and wreaths laid at the memorial flag
pole and at the Matron Paschke Memorial. The guest speaker was RSL State President,
Bruce Ruxton.
Laying wreaths at the flag pole
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The official party that laid wreaths
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Bruce Ruxton
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Bruce Ruxton unveiling the plaque
The plaque reads: 'In memory of those who served in defence
of our nation rededicated on the 4th of December 1999 to commemorate
the 75th anniversary of this memorial.'
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Ray Hutchison (President, Dimboola RSL)
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Fr Ross Davies (Rededicated the memorial)
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Guard of Honour
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Decades
Group photos were taken of the attendees for each decade. Some
groups are shown below.
1920s and 1930s
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1940s
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1950-1954
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1955-1959
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1960s
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1970s
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1980s
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