My old schools: Demolition and Celebration

The other day, while driving around with a colleague, I received a message from Karran, a family member, that demolition has officially begun on South Lismore Public School (SLPS), my old primary school. It was severely damaged in the 2022 flood. Having attended SLPS from 1971 to 1977, I personally experienced the rebuild after the 1974 flood. The constant sound of pile drivers was a familiar backdrop for a couple of years back then, but it ultimately resulted in a much better school. I sincerely hope the current construction is far less disruptive for the staff and students.

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Over the years, we’ve had a couple of large high school reunions, notably in 2004 and then again last year, 2024 for students of Richmond River High School. A few people missed the last one, and one of those classmates had a brilliant idea: since most of us are about to turn 60, why not have a joint birthday party this year?

The plan was simple: head to a pub for dinner, drinks, and a good chat, with an ’80s band playing at Mary G’s as an added bonus. That’s exactly what we did last night, and it was a fantastic idea! Because it wasn’t an “official” school reunion, the atmosphere was much more relaxed. We all had a wonderful time chatting, honestly and openly, about our lives and the experiences of the past few years. We enjoyed a few drinks, and some of us even hit the dance floor.

I must admit, only a handful of us made it to the dance floor, and I found myself bracing against the pillars to avoid toppling over amidst the ’80s tunes, while others preferred to stay back and continue their conversations. I managed to make it home by 10:30 PM, which is well past my usual bedtime. Then, I received a message from Amanda, another classmate, saying she got to bed around 1:30 AM! It sounds like their party went on for quite some time, which I think is pretty impressive given we’re all, or nearly all, turning 60 this year. Most of us are still 59, actually!