CHAPTER TWO
THE PLANTING The beginning of the 1981 school year was fast approaching, but the buildings, delayed by a late start and bad weather, were far from ready. Emergency arrangements were quickly put in place. The church hall in Carey Lane behind the church was made ready, set up with desks, chairs, blackboards, books and storage. It was to be the temporary home of the new school for two months. The opening of enrolments had quickly proved the need for such a school. Enrolment enquiries and applications had flowed in steadily at the rate of up to ten per day. Principal Joe Dickerson was contacted about enrolments even on Christmas Eve, the day of his arrival in Southport. On opening day, 27th January 1981, 73 students were in attendance. One absentee was ill, another still travelling from Victoria. Among them were five grandchildren of Eddie and Lila Mackenzie The three teachers were installed in office at a service in Trinity Lutheran Church on 22nd February. A choir of students sang at the service, the beginning of a rich musical tradition which was to develop in the school. As the school grew, this installation of teachers became an important annual event.
Mrs Lyn Mackenzie taught Grade 1 in the separate hall annexe. In the main body of the hall, divided only by screens, Years 2, 3 and 4 were taught by Mrs Karen Mitchell, and Grades 5, 6 and 7 by Mr Joe Dickerson. On at least one occasion the six upper classes had to abandon their classrooms when congregational activities, organised long before, took precedence. In wet weather all were confined in the building. Youthful creativity produced lunchtime activities for their own amusement. Narrow unsealed Carey Lane became a cricket field. Hitting a six onto the roof of an adjacent building with a tennis ball was an achievement, but not popular with those who had to retrieve the ball! It was not only the facilities which were rudimentary. Mr Wilf Cambridge, the School Council treasurer, came to the school every fortnight to pay the teachers in cash. He also became a frequent visitor to the school on its permanent site to coach the school sports teams and as a regular at working bees. By the end of March, the new buildings at Cotlew Street were finished and ready for occupation. Parents with their vehicles were recruited to assist in the
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